Seun Kuti, remanded Afrobeat singer, could not be granted bail because of an administrative approval process, according to Adeyinka Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Kuti’s counsel. The court sitting on Tuesday was not related to the granting of bail to the musician. Seun Kuti was arrested last week by the police for assaulting an officer. During the court hearing on May 16, he was granted bail but was to remain in police custody for 48 hours for the completion of investigations. After 48 hours, the police requested that the singer be detained for another four days to continue their probe.
Today’s court sitting was meant for the advice of the Lagos Director of Public Prosecution, according to Fusika. The court requested that the prosecution file must come from the DPP’s office, so the police had sent the prosecution file to the DPP for evaluation. Contrary to the court’s instructions, the police have not yet released the case file. The police information officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, was unwilling to comment, stating that the matter was before the court, and he cannot say much about it. If there are updates, Hundeyin explained, the head of the police legal team would be the one to discuss them.
Fusika remains optimistic that the administrative approval will be granted, which would lead to Seun Kuti’s release. Meanwhile, some protesters have called for the singer’s immediate release, with placards and banners supporting the “Free Seun Kuti Now!” crusade. It is worth mentioning that some musicians and activist groups have demanded Seun’s release. Talib Kweli, an American rapper, called for Seun’s release in a post via his verified Instagram page, adding that Seun Kuti is part of his family and has appeared in some of his songs. Nigerian singer, Timaya Odon, professionally known as Timaya, also took to Facebook last Saturday and wrote, “Free Seun Kuti.”
