Stephen Dunmoye
Following the expiration of the extension of his remand in police custody, Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti has been released on Tuesday night on bail, from the detention of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos.
The development was confirmed by his attorney, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, in a telephone interview on Tuesday night.
“Yes, Ṣeun Kuti was released minutes ago,” he said.
It was earlier reported that the Afrobeat musician may be released on Tuesday following the expiration of the extension of his remand in police custody.
The court document which was obtained shows that a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State last week Thursday granted an application by the police for an extension of remand of Seun Kuti until Tuesday, May 23, to enable the police to conclude its investigation, and for the advice of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution.
The police had told the court that the two days remand extension that was earlier granted was not enough for it to conclude its investigation.
Responding to the police’ application, the magistrate wrote in the document, “I will grant the extension. Matter adjourned to May 23, 2023, for DPP’s advice.”
Meanwhile, legal counsel to the musician, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, said that his client’s bail conditions had been met last Thursday.
Olumide-Fusika said, “There’s no comment on the four-day extension. It’s a court decision, we’ll wait and see.
“However, Ṣeun Kuti’s bail conditions have been met from our side. But since there’s a court decision extending for four days, the presiding magistrate did not sign off until after then.”
NEWSTODAYNG gathered that the lead counsel to the police, Simon Lough, SAN, moved the application, noting that the extension was to allow further investigation into the case.
Report has it that Kuti is charged with assaulting a police officer during an altercation on Saturday, May 13, on the Third Mainland Bridge, in Lagos.
The police charged him with slapping an inspector after he drove dangerously on the bridge, and deliberately blocked a moving police vehicle.
Kuti was arraigned last Tuesday, during which the Chief Magistrate earlier ordered his remand for 48 hours, and held that the defendant be admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum, at the end of the 48-hour remand.
However, following a second arraignment last Thursday, the magistrate adjourned the case until May 23 for mention and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the state director of public prosecutions for advice.
