Seun Kuti, the son of the late Fela Kuti, was ordered by the Inspector General of Police to be arrested for assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. According to Vanguard, police stormed the Afrobeat musician’s Lagos apartment and the African shrine in the Ikeja neighborhood of Lagos yesterday to arrest him.
Police agents were reportedly at Seun’s home on Saturday night and Sunday morning, according to Vanguard, but they did not run into him.
According to a source who spoke to Vanguard, Suen is being sought since it is believed that he has fled.
This occurred as the Police Service Commission, PSC, yesterday denounced Seun’s attack on a police officer in Lagos who was wearing a uniform and doing official duties.
PSC applauded Baba Usman Alkali, the Inspector General of Police, for swiftly ordering Seun’s arrest and prosecution.
Today, he will report for duty. Falana, Femi
In the meanwhile, rights advocate and attorney Femi Falana, SAN, stated yesterday that Seun had requested his legal assistance after the IGP ordered to quick arrest of the musician after a viral video of the Afrobeats artist hitting a uniformed policeman appeared on Saturday.
I am his attorney, and he has briefed me, Falana stated. He very surely has proof. He has dealt with the police before, so this is not the first time.
Falana said, “He is going to report himself to the police tomorrow morning (today),” indicating that the troubled artist will surrender on Monday. There is absolutely no issue.
Attempts to contact Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police’s public relations officer, yesterday were unsuccessful since he did not answer calls or texts to his cellphone number.
Police sources at the Command headquarters gave the latter their word that the IGP’s order would be followed.
On Saturday night, Kuti responded to the directive through his Instagram account, saying he approved of the inquiry.
I welcome the probe and will provide full assistance, he wrote. I also want the IG to bring charges against everyone who is at fault.
According to Section 98 of the Police Act 2020-98, “A person who assaults, obstructs, or resists a police officer in the discharge of his duty, or aids or incites any other person to assault, obstruct, or resist a police officer or other person aiding or assisting the police officer in the discharge of his duty, commits an offense and is liable on conviction. ” Mr. Okechukwu Nwagunma, Executive Director, Rule of law.
“Where a person is called upon to aid and assist a police officer who is, while in the performance of his duty, assaulted or resisted or in danger of being assaulted or resisted, the person fails or refuses to aid and assist, the person commits an offense, and the person is liable on conviction to a fine of N I 00,000 or imprisonment for a term of three months or both.”
He said, “Since Seun claims that the police officer intended to kill him, the Police should impartially and thoroughly investigate the case in order to uncover all of the facts and take appropriate action in accordance with the findings and the law.”
PSC requests that Seun Kuti be prosecuted right now.
In a statement, PSC spokesman Ikechukwu Ani said: “The commission demands that the culprit must be arraigned immediately and that the Inspector General must ensure that the matter is followed to its logical conclusion to restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police as the lead agency in internal security and in it’s ability to maintain law and order and also protect lives and properties.”
No one, not even Seun Kuti, has the right to attack a policeman wearing a uniform and doing official duties, according to PSC Chairman and former Inspector General of Police Dr. Solomon Arase. Instead of engaging in this impolite conduct by attacking the national emblem of authority, we as civilized people must investigate existing avenues of complaints against suspected violations by law enforcement officers.
He said, “We anticipate Seun’s swift prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others of his ilk.”
He praised the Police Officer for not becoming agitated by the aggressor’s behavior, which he said would have been more deadly.
Condemnations
The Afrobeat singer’s actions have drawn criticism from all sides.
Dr. Kayode Ajulo, a rights attorney, has added his voice to the discussion and expressed disapproval of the contentious musician’s performance.
According to Dr. Ajulo, “If we really love Seun Kuti, we would concur that he needs the following:
He must get psychological assistance for concerns connected to anger control, among others.
ii. Make sure he expresses regret and extends an unqualified apology to the Nigeria Police Force, the victim, and the country’s whole populace.
iii. He needs to preserve his interests in the situation and seek appropriate legal counsel for what he perceives to be human rights.
“witnessing Seun’s clip is like witnessing the events that sparked the #Endsars campaign being played backward. We cannot simultaneously claim to be the victim and present as the culprit.
Police issue a strong warning for assault on a police officer.
The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command has issued a warning that assaulting a police officer is a severe criminal, regardless of whose state you are in.
When asked about Seun’s actions, the command’s spokeswoman, Josephine Adeh, said, “Assault on a Police Officer is considered a severe violation regardless of the state you’re in.
People who claim that Seun Kuti was justified in what he did because police officers often abuse victims alarmed me. Even posting outdated recordings of policemen abusing citizens was done by them. Because of his zero-tolerance policy against police wrongdoing, which resulted in the dismissal of a few of them, the IGP will see to it that anybody who attacks the police is dealt with legally.