BREAKING: Afrobeat Musician, Seun Kuti Released on Bail

Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, has been released on bail from the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Lagos, on Tuesday night.

Accroding to Punch, his attorney, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, disclosed in a telephone interview on Tuesday night.

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

Remember that it was previously reported that the Afrobeat musician may be freed today (Tuesday) after the extension of his remand in police custody expired.

According to court records, the Chief Magistrate extended Kuti’s remand until May 23.

Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State accepted the police’s request for an extension of Seun Kuti’s custody till Tuesday (today) so that they could complete their investigation and obtain the opinion of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, according to the document.

The police had advised the court that the initial two-day remand extension was insufficient to conclude their investigation.

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.”