The treatment of Afrobeat star and activist in the hands of the Nigeria Police is fast winning public sympathy for him and turning a villain into a hero. The accused has refused to make any statement to the Police because of allegations by his Lawyers of prejudicial comments in the media by the Police on the matter.

Mr. Seun Kuti, the son of the renowned musician Fela Kuti, who submitted himself to the police, was paraded in handcuffs by the Police on Monday and has refused to make any statement in custody, accusing the Nigerian Police Force of concluding its investigation and making it the subject of media coverage.

In a statement by his lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN on Tuesday, the Afrobeat singer alleged that the Lagos police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, who has also assumed the role of an investigative police officer had submitted his findings to the media instead of submitting his report of investigation for legal evaluation towards possible prosecution

Barrister Olumide-Fusika stated that Mr. Seun Kuti has refused to make any statements to the police, stating that since the force has concluded its investigation, he “will at the right time and place, and in as rigorous a manner possible under the law, defend himself against Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin’s published investigative findings”.

The Senior Advocate also added that due to his refusal to make a statement, the police deprived him of the privilege of being visited by his wife who had come to the police station to deliver food to him on Monday evening

The statement reads “Benjamin Hundeyin who goes by the formal title of Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, but apparently doubles as the Investigating Police Officer into the case of alleged assault of a policeman by my client, Mr. Seun Kuti, has issued a report of his investigative work. Mr. Seun Kuti would have expected that having completed his investigative work, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, a law enforcer, would proceed according to law by sending the file containing his report of investigation for legal evaluation towards possible prosecution.

“Mr. Seun Kuti is nevertheless not surprised that Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin chose instead to make his investigative report the subject of media publication, as for instance, in the Punch online publication of Monday May 15, 2023 titled “Assault: Seun Kuti apologised, gave cop ₦‎12,000 to repair vehicle, police say”. According to Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, in his investigative report handed over to The Punch,

“Seun Kuti was the one that bashed the officer’s vehicle, and the policeman followed him to call his attention to it, but the musician alighted from his car and slapped the policeman as seen in the trending video. However, the officer reported the incident at the Police Command in Ikeja.”

“The policeman was alone. After the altercation, he followed Seun Kuti to his home in Ikeja, and the musician apologised to the policeman and gave him ₦12,000 to repair his damaged vehicle.

“But the officer reported the incident at the Area F Police Command in Ikeja, and deposited the ₦12,000 at the counter while he gave a written statement concerning the incident,”

“Although he had been with the Police since 8:00am on Monday 15th May, 2023, Mr. Seun Kuti notes that it was at about 8:00pm that day, after Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin had already completed and published his investigative report above, that he was asked to make a statement to the Police at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.

“ Mr. Seun Kuti has therefore volunteered to his interlocutors a statement to the effect that since Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin has already done the investigation and issued and published his report on it, there was no useful purpose to be served by any statement from him. He will, at the right time and place, and in as rigorous a manner possible under the law, defend himself against Mr. Hundeyin’s published ‘investigative findings’.

“The consequence of this for Mr Seun Kuti was that his wife was refused the “privilege” of delivering a meal to him in the evening of Monday May 15, 2023, even though there was no other arrangement in place to have him fed. We await the next move of the Police on the allegation of crime against Mr Seun Kuti.

This statement is an update to an earlier one on Monday which alleged maltreatment of Mr. Seun Kuti by the Police. The statement reads: “Following his encounter with a policeman on the Third Mainland Bridge on Saturday the 13th May, 2023, my client, Mr. Seun Kuti reported himself in the office of the Commissioner of Police at the Police Command, Ikeja, at 8 am today Monday May 15, 2023.

“I accompanied him to the Ikeja police station together with another lawyer, Mr. Femi Akinyemi from Falana and Falana chambers. However, there was no interrogation as it was decided he would be moved to the Force Criminal Investigation Unit at Panti, Yaba. Before his movement, Mr. Seun Kuti, was handcuffed and his photograph taken in the open by the Lagos PPRO, Mr. David Hundeyin who coordinated the parade and apparently shared the photograph of his parade in the media.

“Mr. Kuti is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved by the State. Therefore, the decision of the police to subject him to the media parade violates section 9 of the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, which has prohibited any form of parade of criminal suspects in Nigeria in Lagos State. The Police is supposed to enforce the Law, but prefers to disrespect and break it so casually and randomly. A Police institution that has no respect for the law it exists to enforce is not a good example to alleged law breakers.

“The decision of the police to handcuff Mr. Kuti is equally illegal as it constitutes a violation of Section 5 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

“After handcuffing him, the Police then drove him in a long convoy of heavily armed personnel from Ikeja to Panti Lagos, where he was again displayed for viewing to the men and officers of that police formation, and is currently held.

“We await the next move of the Police on the misdemeanor alleged against Mr. Seun Kuti.”

The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, ordered the arrest of Seun Kuti following a viral video seen on Friday having an argument leading to a brawl with a police officer standing in the middle of a busy road in Lagos, eliciting reactions across the country. The Inspector General of Police declared that such “acts of contempt/disdain for symbols of authority will not be tolerated while offenders of such hideous crimes will be surely brought to book.”

Responding to IGP’s order, Mr Kuti, on his Instastory promised to turn himself in, stating that his action was a reaction to the police officer’s attempt to kill him and his family, pledging his full cooperation to the police to carry out their investigations.

“He tried to kill me and my family. I have the proof but I no dey chase clout. He has apologised and I have agreed not to press charges. Make una mind una business make the poor guy no lose him job. I welcome the investigation and will give my full cooperation! I also pray to the IG that whoever is wrong should be indicted”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Afro singer kept his word by surrendering himself to the Lagos state police headquarters, Panti Yaba on Monday upon his visit to the commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohuwa in the company of his lawyers.

There has been a widespread criticism of the Police decision to put Mr. Seun Kuti in chains despite reporting himself to the Police. The act constitutes a violation of Section 5 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law”, the lawyer said.