Embattled Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, regained his freedom on Tuesday, after spending eight days in police custody.
He was taken into custody on May 16 after he submitted himself at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos State.
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, had ordered the arrest of the musician after he was captured in a viral video assaulting a policeman on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos on May 13.
Seun’s elder sister, Yeni Kuti, told our correspondent on Tuesday that the musician had met the terms of his bail granted him by the magistrate and was released.
Yeni said Lande Ransome-Kuti and Funke Kuti stood as the sureties for Seun.
She said, “They have perfected his bail, the judge has signed and the sureties have been accepted.
“They have gone to the sureties’ houses to inspect, Lande and Funke stood as sureties for him.”
Seun’s attorney, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, (SAN), in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday night, confirmed the development.
He said, “Yes, Seun Kuti has just was released minutes ago.
“His bail conditions has been perfected since last Thursday, but the police asked for an extension of his remand until today (Tuesday).”
The police had on May 16 taken the musician before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, where the magistrate granted the police an order to detain him for 48 hours.
The magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, said at the expiration of the 48 hours, the musician should be released on bail in the sum of “ N1m with two responsible sureties, a three years tax payment receipt that is verifiable; one of the sureties must have a landed property within the court jurisdiction.”
The magistrate ordered the police to forward the case file to the Lagos State Directorate or Public Proscutions for legal advice.
But on the expiration of the 48 hours, the police returned and obtained an order to remand Seun Kuti for additional four days to conclude investigations.
The additional remand lapsed on Tuesday.
In the charges filed against him, the police alleged that Seun Kuti assaulted a police officer, obstructed his lawful duty and conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace on May 13, 2023.
The police alleged that the singer drove dangerously on the highway outward Third Mainland Bridge and deliberately grabbed a policeman in uniform, raining slaps to his face.
Meanwhile, following the delay of his bail, on Tuesday morning at the Yaba Chief Magistrates Court, Lagos State, youths gathered outside the court to protest and demand the freedom of the Afrobeat musician.
The protesters were seen holding banners and placards as they chanted “Free Seun Kuti Now!”
