This comes as the police frantically search for evidence to nail the Afrobeat musician for another crime, SaharaReporters learnt on Friday.
The police in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, have asked the Chief Magistrate of Yaba Court to allow them forcibly draw Seun Kuti’s blood for testing.
This comes as the police frantically search for evidence to nail the Afrobeat musician for another crime, SaharaReporters learnt on Friday.
“Police have asked the Chief Magistrate of Yaba court to allow them to forcibly draw Seun Kuti’s blood after they did not find anything incriminating in his house and car,” a source said.
SaharaReporters reported that the musician was on Thursday rushed back to the magistrate court in Yaba, Lagos by the police to seek four days’ extension ‘to conclude investigations’.
Seun was arraigned in court on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a police officer, an offence contrary to Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act. But he was granted a suspended bail on Tuesday.
SaharaReporters earlier on Thursday reported that the musician could not return home yet due to a delay caused by the Chief Magistrate and Registrar of the Yaba Court in Lagos.
It was learnt that the police took Seun to court again on Thursday to seek the magistrate’s permission to hold him for more days, without informing the musician’s lawyers.
“Seun Kuti was rushed back to court by police to get four more days’ extension to conclude investigations.
“This is apparently to forestall the commencement of his summer tour that should start on Saturday
“The case was stood down and his lawyers are heading to court. Instead of signing his bail bond, the Chief Magistrate commenced a secret hearing that didn’t notify his lawyers,” a source privy to the hearing had said.
The Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos granted bail to Seun Kuti on Tuesday and ordered the police to finish their investigation into the alleged assault of a policeman in 48 hours and allow Kuti to go home.
The Chief Magistrate also asked the police to remove themselves from prosecuting him.
She directed that the case file should be duplicated and forwarded to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions for prosecution.
SaharaReporters reported on Wednesday that the police invaded Seun Kuti’s house, to search for evidence of cannabis and weapons to incriminate him.
Police sources told SaharaReporters on Wednesday that the operatives however found only a “gun licence” and when they requested to see the gun, they were told it had been sent for repairs.
SaharaReporters earlier on Tuesday reported that the police stormed the residence of Seun Kuti and ransacked it in search of evidence to nail the Afrobeat singer.
SaharaReporters had learnt that the operatives thoroughly combed it as they fished for evidence to charge him with a separate crime.
It was learnt that the officers took the musician along when they went to his house and seized his wife’s mobile phone.
On Thursday, it was also reported that the police tried to search Seun’s Mercedes Benz car which was parked at his friend’s house.
However, it was learnt that they could not enter the car.
Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti was on Monday arrested and handcuffed following his visit to the state police command.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the musician kept his word that he would cooperate with the police by turning himself in on Monday to cooperate with the investigation into the allegation that he assaulted a policeman as captured in a viral video.
Meanwhile, human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore on Friday accused the police of seeking revenge and not justice.
“@PoliceNG asks Chief Magistrate in Lagos to allow them forcefully draw @RealSeunKuti’s blood for testing after they didn’t find anything in his house and car during search. This is about revenge not justice! #Revolutionnow,” he tweeted.