A Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Wednesday refused an application by the police to formally arraign afrobeat singer Seun Kuti.
Kuti, who was released from custody on Tuesday night, had been on remand for six days on the orders of the court.
The police had on May 16 applied for remand of the musician over alleged assault on a police officer.
On Wednesday, Mr. Cyril Ejiofor, who led a police legal team to the court, applied to allow arraignment of the singer saying the application was to formally bring charges against Kuti.
Kuti’s counsel, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, opposed the application arguing 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 to disallow the police from prosecuting before investigation as 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.
Olatubosun held that she needed the DPP’s advice before proceeding with the case and adjourned the case until July 3 for mention.
Credible News reports that the police alleged that Kuti assaulted a police officer on May 13 on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
Kuti slapped an inspector after driving dangerously on the bridge and deliberately blocking a moving police vehicle, the police alleged..
