Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, was on Thursday rushed back to the magistrate court in Yaba, Lagos by the police as they seek four days’ extension ‘to conclude investigations’.

Seun was arraigned in court on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a police officer, an offence contrary to Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act. But he was granted a suspended bail on Tuesday.

SaharaReporters earlier on Thursday reported that the musician could not return home yet due to a delay caused by the Chief Magistrate and Registrar of the Yaba Court in Lagos.

SaharaReporters learnt on Thursday that the Chief Magistrate and Registrar had not resumed in court to sign Seun’s bail papers, as of the time of filing the report.

“The Chief Magistrate and Registrar haven’t resumed to sign Seun Kuti’s bail papers,” a source had told SaharaReporters.

However, it was learnt that the police took Seun to court again on Thursday to seek the magistrate’s permission to hold him for more days, without informing the musician’s lawyers.

“Seun Kuti was rushed back to court by police to get four more days’ extension to conclude investigations.

"This is apparently to forestall the commencement of his summer tour that should start on Saturday

“The case was stood down and his lawyers are heading to court. Instead of signing his bail bond, the Chief Magistrate commenced a secret hearing that didn’t notify his lawyers,” a source privy to the hearing said.

The Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos granted bail to Seun Kuti on Tuesday and ordered the police to finish their investigation into the alleged assault of a policeman in 48 hours and allow Kuti to go home.

The Chief Magistrate also asked the police to remove themselves from prosecuting him.

She directed that the case file should be duplicated and forwarded to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions for prosecution.

SaharaReporters had reported that the police prosecutors claimed at the Magistrate Court that the assaulted policeman was in a coma, and was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

oshozondii:


https://saharareporters.com/2023/05/18/breaking-seun-kuti-rushed-back-court-nigerian-police-secret-hearing-magistrate-hold