Court refuses application for Seun Kuti’s arraignment

Abiodun OBA

An application by the police to formally arraign afrobeat singer Seun Kuti was on Wednesday turned down by  a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

Mr Cyril Ejiofor, who led a police legal team to the court, applied to the court to allow arraignment of the singer.

He said that the application was to formally bring charges against Kuti.

Kuti’s counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), however, opposed the application.

He argued that the police refused to send the case file to Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice, as directed by the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Olatubosun.

He urged the court not to let the police to prosecute and investigate at the same time.

Falana urged that the order given by the court should not be disregarded.

“The police should duplicate the case and transfer it for DPP’s advice,” Falana said.

In her ruling, Olatubosun held that she needed the DPP’s advice before proceeding with the case.

She adjourned the case until July 3 for mention.

The police had alleged that Kuti assaulted a police officer on May 13 on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State and on May 16 applied for remand of the musician over alleged assault on a police officer.

According to the police, Kuti slapped an inspector after driving dangerously on the bridge and deliberately blocking a moving police vehicle.

However, Kuti, who was released from custody on Tuesday night, had been on remand for six days on the orders of the court.