Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti has been arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lagos state over an alleged assault on a police officer.
The musician was accompanied by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the state police command, on Monday confirmed Seun Kuti’s arrest by tweeting, “SERIOUS ASSAULT ON POLICE OFFICER: SEUN KUTI TURNS SELF IN.
“Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, in the early hours of today turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, in company of his lawyer and family representative.
“He has been placed under arrest in line with the law. The Command appreciates the public for their concern and assures that the ongoing investigation will be detailed, transparent, professionally pursued; and justice will be manifestly served for all parties involved.”
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, had ordered Seun’s arrest after a video of the musician assaulting a policeman surfaced online.
Seun, in a viral video, was seen embroiled in a heated affront with the officer who was standing in the middle of a busy road.
“The IGP has equally ordered a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly.”
“IGP Usman Alkali Baba assures Nigerians that acts of contempt/disdain for symbols of authority will not be tolerated while offenders of such hideous crimes will be surely brought to book,” the spokesman for the Nigeria Police Force, Muyiwa Adejobi had said in a statement.