COURT REFUSES POLICE APPLICATION FOR SEUN KUTI'S ARRAIGNMENT

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A Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, on Wednesday, rejected a police application to formally arraign afrobeat singer Seun Kuti.

Kuti had been on remand for six days on the orders of the court before being released from custody on Tuesday night.

Hotjist reported that Kuti turned himself in after police allege that Kuti assaulted a police officer on May 13 on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State.

The police had on May 16, applied for remand of the musician over alleged assault on a police officer.

On Wednesday, Cyril Ejiofor, who led a police legal team to the court, applied to the court to allow arraignment of the singer.

According to Ejiofor, the application was to formally bring charges against Kuti.

However, Kuti’s counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), opposed the application noting that due process had not been observed..

Falana in his argument said the defendant was entitled to at least forty eight hours in accordance with section 72 of the Lagos administration of Criminal Justice law.

He argued 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, Adeola Olatubosun.

He urged the court not to let the police to prosecute and investigate at the same time.

Falana urged that 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.

In her ruling, Olatubosun held that she needed the DPP’s advice before proceeding with the case.

She adjourned the case until July 3 for mention.