Seun Kuti after his arrest
Seun Kuti after his arrest
By
Abiodun Sanusi
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The PUNCH has exclusively gathered that following the incident that led to the arrest and detention of Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti on Monday, the suspect had apologised and given the sum of ₦‎12,000 to the assaulted officer to repair his damaged vehicle on Saturday.

Impeccable sources privy to the incident confirmed the development to our correspondent on Monday, adding that the officer had trailed Seun Kuti to his Akin Osiyemi residence off Allen Avenue, Ikeja after the musician bashed his vehicle on the Third Mainland bridge.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, also confirmed to our correspondent in a phone call, that Seun Kuti apologised to the assaulted policeman and gave him the sum of ₦‎12,000 for vehicle repair.

A source said, “Seun Kuti was the one that bashed the officer’s vehicle, and the policeman followed him to call his attention to it, but the musician alighted from his car and slapped the policeman as seen in the trending video. However, the officer reported the incident at the Police Command in Ikeja.”


“The policeman was alone. After the altercation, he followed Seun Kuti to his home in Ikeja, and the musician apologised to the policeman and gave him ₦12,000 to repair his damaged vehicle.

“But the officer reported the incident at the Area F Police Command in Ikeja, and deposited the ₦12,000 at the counter while he gave a written statement concerning the incident,” another source said.

The PUNCH reports that Seun Kuti is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, popularly known as Panti, in Yaba, Lagos State, following a visit to the FCID over the alleged assault.


The musician was accompanied by a lawyer representing Falana and Falana Chambers, the law firm of popular human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN.

Our correspondent exclusively obtained a video clip and pictures showing the musician in handcuffs while being paraded by police officers at the SCID, Lagos.

Responding to an inquiry concerning Ṣeun’s apology and monetary tip, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said Seun Kuti had on Saturday apologised to the assaulted policeman and given him the sum of ₦‎12,000 for vehicle repair.

Hundeyin said, “Although the investigation is still ongoing, but your correspondence is correct. Seun Kuti apologized to the officer on Saturday, and gave him ₦‎12,000 to repair his damaged vehicle, after the officer followed him to his house in Ikeja after the altercation.

“Fortunately, the policeman had earlier reported the incident at the Area F Police Command, and deposited the ₦‎12,000 with the Command, before the video of the assault went viral on social media.”

The PUNCH reported that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba had earlier ordered the arrest of the musician.

The IG equally ordered a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the alleged assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly.

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This was as the musician alleged attempted murder of himself and his family by the police officer in question, in a social media post obtained by our correspondent on Saturday night.

However, following the IG’s order for his arrest, Mr. Kuti in another Instagram post, said, “I welcome the investigation and will give my full cooperation! I also pray to the IG that whoever is wrong should be indicted.”

This was as the Police Service Commission demands the immediate prosecution of the musician, adding that no one has the right to assault a policeman in uniform and on official duty, no matter the offence committed by the police officer.

Following the development, Falana, SAN, said the musician had sought his legal services, adding that Seun Kuti has evidence to defend his action.

Falana said, “I am his lawyer and he has briefed me. He certainly has evidence. This is not the first time he is dealing with the police.

“He (Seun) is going to report himself to the police tomorrow morning. There is no problem at all.”

Musician risks three years imprisonment


According to section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, if found guilty of assault against the yet-to-be-named police officer, Ṣeun Kuti is liable to spend three years in prison.

The Act reads,“ Anyone who assaults, resists, or willfully obstructs a police officer while acting in the execution of his duty, or any person acting in aid of a police officer while so acting is guilty of felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.”

The PUNCH reports that Kuti in a 12-second video clip which went viral on Saturday showed Kuti, who wore a red shirt and white pair of trousers, pushing a policeman, who stood beside a Toyota Hilux police van. He then proceeded to slap the cop, as he shouted, “You dey craze, you dey mad?”

A motorist, who filmed the incident from his car, was heard saying, “Omo na Kuti o. Na better news be this o.”

PSC demands musician’s prosecution

The Police Service Commission has demanded the immediate prosecution of Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, over alleged assault on a police officer on the Third Mainland bridge in Lagos State on Saturday.

The PSC Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector-General of Police, said Seun’s arraignment would serve as a deterrent to other citizens, adding that no one has the right to assault a policeman in uniform and on official duty, no matter the offence committed by a police officer.

“But the officer reported the incident at the Area F Police Command in Ikeja, and deposited the ₦12,000 at the counter while he gave a written statement concerning the incident,” another source said

The officer did not report anything to ikeja Div it was the social media post that alerted everyone to the incident...Police hierarchy and lies na 5&6

Seun reacted under the influence of Egbo.

No problem at all.
IDAN!

Medicine after death. He needs to be taught a lesson he won't forget in a hurry. What if the police officer was a trigger happy officer won't it be a different story today?

And by the way you want to make restitution to a full grown man you assaulted and you are giving him 12k?

Fela we respect

Not looking good for seun..,


But why behave like a tout?

Anyway, if found guilty na to face the consequences of your action!

Mesine after death. Seun always wants Nigerians to see him as fearless and hard man like his father, fela, but inside he himself knows he's a weakling. See how he messed himself, dey run go meet falana after d initial gra grahe still offer paltry 12k. Naira.poor musician

I thought they said he was threatening his family and he had evidence to it .. even peter abi Paul was chuking mouth

Now stories have change
Issokay...

Story! He should be jailed.. Period

Make them pity am abeg, make them reason like politician pikin. The guy is just immatured.

The police guy outsmarted him, instead of taking the money, he rather reported to CID and deposited the money as evidence and exhibit 😂

Seun is in for a long ride 🤣

thesicilian:
Medicine after death. He needs to be taught a lesson he won't forget in a hurry. What if the police officer was a trigger happy officer won't it be a different story today?

And by the way you want to make restitution to a full grown man you assaulted and you are giving him 12k?

What restitution are the Gunmen of the south east making to the family of police officers they're killing everyday?

Despite Nigerian not liking their police officers, they still want him punished.

The guy abused fame that he didn't labour for , if not for fela his father, who would have known seun? Fela won't have done this nonsense his son did, he would have been the victim of the assault and vent his anger through music. The life of a social or civil right activist must be exemplary at all times.

Lol, seun car was damaged from the back and the officers car was damaged from the front on a bridge where everyone is going forward not reversing oo, and Na seun bash am abi unna think se everyone daft like unna [color=#990000][/color]