By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A rights group, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), has condemned, in strong terms, the way and manner the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) treated the son of legend Afrobeat Musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Seun Kuti, by handcuffing like a common criminal.

CHRSJ also kicked against the way and manner the Police treated Seun Kuti by removing all his belongings, saying that it looked as if they had arrested a notorious armed robber or murderer.

The group observed that the political class which have hitherto mortgaged the country's economic future and more so involved in financial crime were treated like kings by Police.

It further maintained that the over zealousness of the Police made them to handcuff Seun Kuti, despite the fact that he turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, in company of his lawyer and family representative in the early hours of Monday.

While urging the Police to release Kuti unconditionally as ordered by a Court of Competent jurisdiction, CHRSJ, in a statement by it's Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi

Alimi Sulaiman, and made available to news men on Tuesday, the group further condemned the unprofessional conduct by the alleged Police officer claimed to have been assaulted by Seun Kuti, noting that Seun Kuti displayed such action out of provocation by the said officer.

"The Police officer acted in contrary to Article (1) of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, stating thus: "Law enforcement officials shall, at all times, fulfill the duty imposed upon them by law, by serving the community and by protecting all persons against illegal acts, consistent with the high degree of responsibility required by their profession."

Sulaiman, who doubles as Convener, Save Lagos Group (SLG), advised Seun Kuti to control his temper in dealing with the Police officers, saying that they after him to collect more money, after allegedly collecting N12,000 from him to repair their acclaimed damaged vehicle.

"It would be recalled that Afrobeats singer, Seun Kuti, has been remanded in Police custody for 48 hours after which he has to be granted bail for assaulting a Police officer.

"Kuti, in a 12-second video clip that went viral on 13th May, 2023, was alleged to have assaulted a Policeman at the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State.

"The defendant turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, on Monday, 15th May, following an order for his arrest by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkhali Baba.

"He was later transferred to the State’s Criminal Investigation Department(SCID), Panti-Yaba and was, on Tuesday, 16th May, arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court for assault on a Police Officer, an offence claimed to be contrary to Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act.

"The prosecution led by S. A. Adebese and Morufu Animashaun, prayed the court to remand the defendant for 21 days, pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. However, Kuti’s Counsel, led by Femi Falana (SAN), prayed the court not to remand his client, stating that they (the Counsel) were not aware of the remand application.

The Magistrate, after listening to both parties, requested five minutes of recess, saying that she needed to deliberate on her own.

She, however handed her phone to the Registrar to avoid calls from both parties. When the court resumed sitting, Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun read out her ruling wherein she said that she would not rely on Police investigation, hence she ordered for the remand of the defendant for 48 hours in Police custody.

The Magistrate further stated that, "following the remand application presented before the court, I am advising that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Directorate of Public Please (DPP) within 72 hours.

“The defendant is hereby remanded for 48 hours in Police custody to allow the Police to conclude their investigation. After 48 hours, the defendant will be granted bail in the sum of N1 million with two reasonable and responsible sureties, a three years tax payment receipt that is verifiable; one of the sureties must have a landed property within the court jurisdiction.

“She, therefore, adjourned the case to 23rd day of May, 2023, for mention,” the statement reported.

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