The Police Service Commission (PSC) has demanded the immediate prosecution of Seun Kuti, a popular Afrobeat musician, for allegedly assaulting a police officer on Saturday on the Third Mainland bridge in Lagos state. According to a statement from the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, PSC Chairman, Dr Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector-General of Police, said Seun’s arraignment would serve as a deterrent to others.
Arase stated that no citizen had the right to assault a policeman in uniform on official duty, regardless of the police officer’s offence. He condemned the effort to slap the police officer, insisting that Nigeria is not a Hobbesian state where might is right. He urged Nigerians to explore proper channels for complaints against alleged infractions by law enforcement officials instead of assaulting the symbol of authority in the country.
The PSC applauded the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, for his prompt action in ordering the arrest and prosecution of Seun Kuti, who has allegedly diminished the sanctity of the symbol of authority of Nigeria. In supporting the arrested officer, Arase commended him for refusing to be provoked, thereby averting what could have been a fatal outcome.
Arase urged the Nigeria Police to use the incident to set an example that such actions would no longer be tolerated in Nigeria, a country governed by laws, rules, and regulations. He noted that the public’s groundswell of opinion against the conduct of the alleged abuser was indicative of Nigerians’ love and respect for law enforcement officers, emphasizing the need for police officers to respect the populace’s rights and behave professionally.
In conclusion, the PSC has demanded Seun Kuti’s immediate prosecution to restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police and ensure that law and order are maintained while lives and properties are protected. The commission sees this as an opportunity to make an example of Seun Kuti and others who may want to take the law into their own hands.
