Protesters gather outside Yaba court ahead of Seun Kuti’s ‘assault’ trial

Protesters gathered outside the magistrate’s court in Yaba,
Lagos on Tuesday to vent their frustration ahead of the trial of Seun Kuti, the
Afrobeat star.

Seun, the youngest son of Fela Kuti, the late Afrobeat
legend, was apprehended on April 15 after he was filmed assaulting a police
officer on the Third Mainland Bridge.

He was detained at the state criminal investigation
Department (SCID) and arraigned before the state magistrate’s court in Yaba on
April 16.

The police had sought to get an order to further keep him in
custody for 21 days pending the conclusion of its investigation.

But Adeola Olatubosun, the chief magistrate of the court,
directed the police to detain the musician for additional 48 hours and then
release him on bail.

On Thursday, the magistrate extended Seun’s remand for
additional four days to enable the police to continue with its investigation.

She also ordered that Seun’s file be duplicated and sent to
the director of public prosecution (DPP) and subsequently adjourned the trial
till May 22.

The trial was, however, shifted to Tuesday.

But on Tuesday, some demonstrators were seen carrying
banners with inscriptions like ‘Free Seun Kuti’, and ‘End Police Brutality’
among others.

More to follow…