Assault On Policeman: Seun Kuti Hires Senior Advocate Femi Falana

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has said he will provide legal services to Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, who sought his intervention following the singer’s alleged assault on a police officer.

The SAN, who confirmed the development to our correspondent on Sunday, said the singer had enough evidence to defend himself.

This was as the Police Service Commission demanded the immediate prosecution of the musician, saying no one had the right to assault a policeman in uniform and on official duty, no matter the offence committed by police officer.

Reacting to an inquiry by our correspondent on Sunday, Falana said, “I am his (Seun Kuti’s) lawyer and he has briefed me. He certainly has evidence. This is not the first time he is dealing with the police.”

There were also speculations on Sunday that a team of police officers drafted to effect Kuti’s arrest could not locate him upon getting to his residence.

However, efforts to confirm the development from the police authorities proved abortive, as the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, and the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, did not respond to inquiries by our correspondent.

Falana while reacting to this disclosed that the embattled singer would turn himself in on Monday.

He added, “He (Seun) is going to report himself to the police tomorrow (Monday) morning. There is no problem at all.”

A viral video of the musician assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State went viral on Saturday.

In the 12-second video, Kuti, who wore a red shirt and white pair of trousers, was seen pushing a policeman, who stood beside a Toyota Hilux police van. He then proceeded to slap the cop, as he shouted, “You dey craze, you dey mad?”

A motorist, who filmed the incident from his car, was heard saying, “Omo na Kuti o. Na better news be this o.”

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, reacting, ordered the arrest of the singer.

The IG equally ordered a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the alleged assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly.