Afrobeat Musician, Seun Kuti Released on Bail

 On Tuesday night, Seun Kuti, an afrobeat musician, was granted bail by the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Lagos.

Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, his counsel, reportedly revealed in a telephone interview on Tuesday night, according to Punch.

Yes, Ṣeun Kuti was released minutes ago,” he said.

Remember that it was earlier stated that the Afrobeat musician's extension of his remand in police custody will expire today (Tuesday), possibly leading to his release.

The Chief Magistrate reportedly extended Kuti's detention until May 23.

According to the document, the Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates' Court in Lagos State granted the police's request for an extension of Seun Kuti's custody till Tuesday (today) so they could wrap up their investigation and get the Directorate of Public Prosecutions' view.

The initial two-day remand extension was not enough time for the police to complete their investigation, they had told the court.

Responding to the police’ application, the magistrate said, “I will grant the extension. Matter adjourned to May 23, 2023, for DPP’s advice,” the document exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Monday revealed.

Meanwhile, legal counsel to the musician, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, told the Punch that his client’s (Seun Kuti’s) bail conditions had been met last Thursday.

However, it was gathered that police lawyers went to court on Thursday to get a remand extension without notifying the musician’s legal counsel.

“The police lawyers came to court on Thursday without informing Seun’s lawyers. When the matter was called for mention, a young lawyer who was in court, pleaded with the magistrate to stand down the matter for about five minutes for Seun Kuti’s legal counsel, Olumide-Fusika, SAN, who had rushed down from Ikeja, to arrive.

“But the magistrate refused, and extended Seun’s detention till Monday,” a source privy to the development revealed to our correspondent on Thursday.

Our correspondent gathered that the lead counsel to the police, Simon Lough, SAN, moved the application, noting that the extension was to allow further investigation into the case.

Seun Kuti’s bail conditions met – Lawyer

Reacting to the development during an interview with our correspondent, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, noted that the musician’s bail conditions had been met, while insinuating that the court’s decision for the four days remand extension would, however, be respected.

Olumide-Fusika said, “There’s no comment on the four-day extension. It’s a court decision, we’ll wait and see.

“However, Ṣeun Kuti’s bail conditions have been met from our side. But since there’s a court decision extending for four days, the presiding magistrate did not sign off until after then.”

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