Lawyers representing Seun Kuti, the embattled afrobeat singer, have accused the police of flouting a court order by not releasing Kuti’s case file. In a statement released on Friday, the legal team called on the Lagos State’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Simon Lough, to send the file to the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, in adherence to the order of the magistrate’s court. The musician, who is the son of late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has been in police custody since May 15, following allegations that he assaulted a police officer.
Kuti’s lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, said the police were creating a “circus” around the case. The lawyer added that the singer had presented himself to the police voluntarily and was waiting patiently for charges to be filed in order to offer his defence. Olumide-Fusika also urged Lough to respect the order made by the court and send the case file to the director of public prosecutions.
On Thursday, Lough accused Kuti’s legal team of conducting a “media trial” rather than cooperating with the police. However, Olumide-Fusika rejected the claim, saying Seun Kuti’s team had not engaged in a media trial or defence of their client.
