Musician on the Run
Read Time:3 Minute, 20 Second
Nigerian Afrobeat star Seun Kuti is apparently on the run after the Inspector-General of Police ordered his arrest for assaulting a police officer on duty
Lawyer says he will report to the police on Monday
Afrobeat star Seun Kuti the son of the late Afrobeat maestro Fela Kuti, is said to be on the run from the Nigerian Police after the Inspector-General ordered his arrest for assaulting a police officer on duty. This comes 24 hours after the order for his arrest was given.
A Police tactical team that visited his Ikeja residence in the commercial capital Lagos met his absence. Following a a long wait they withdrew giving the impression that the music star was on the run from the law.
The IGP Usman Alkali Baba ordered the musician’s arrest after viral videos emerged on social media showing the Afrobeat star grabbing the police officer by the neck and giving him a slap.
In the video, the musician is seen stepping out of his Mercedes Benz GLS on the busy Third Mainland Bridge grabbing the officer who stood beside the Toyota Hilux police van, by the neck and screaming. “Are you mad are you crazy?” before proceeding to slap the officer who kept his professional demeanour despite the provocation. A motorist, who filmed the incident from his car, was heard saying, “Omo na Kuti o. Na better news be this o.”
Social media users on Saturday expressed outrage at the action of the singer. A popular tweep, @PoojaMedia, said Kuti had no right to assault the officer, adding that he was looking forward to seeing the police handle the case.
A Twitter user, @Obajemujnr_ , wrote, “Nobody is above the law; Seun Kuti (Mr. Know All) slapping a policeman should serve a jail term for it. We might not like the Nigerian police, but give them the respect they deserve. He preaches good governance while beating a police officer.”
Before he disappeared into thin air Kuti wrote on Instagram. “He tried to kill me and my family, I have the proof but I no dey chase clout. He has apologised and I have agreed not to press charges. Make una mind una business, make the poor guy no lose him job.”
Following the IGP’s order for his arrest, 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.”
On Sunday, legal luminary Femi Falana who helped Seun Kuti’s father Fela escape a murder charge in 1993 denied the musician was on the run that the Afrobeat star would turn himself in on Monday.
“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 is going to report himself to the police tomorrow morning. There is no problem at all.” Falana added.
In statement released Sunday, the Police Service Commission (PSC) lauded the IGP for promptly ordering the arrest of the star and said it was looking forward to his prosecution.
The statement also commended the police officer in question for staying calm despite the provocation. The chairman of the PSC, Solomon Arase said in the release.
He added that the police must use the incident to set a precedent that assault on police officers cannot be tolerated.
“As civilised people, we must explore established channels of complaints against alleged infractions by law enforcement officials rather than this uncouth behaviour of assaulting the symbol of authority in our country,” the PSC chairman said.
“We look forward to the prompt prosecution of Seun to act as a deterrent to others of his ilk.”
According to Section 356 of the Nigerian criminal code assaulting a police officer is a felony and can result in imprisonment for three years.
Akowe with reports from Lagos
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
Average Rating