…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
Seun Kuti, a prominent Nigerian Afrobeat musician, is embarking on a summer European tour, with his first destination being Switzerland.
This comes on the same day he was released from the custody of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos State.
A source confirmed that Kuti’s departure to Zurich, where he is scheduled to perform on Thursday, has been finalized.
The tour follows Kuti’s unfortunate inability to perform at a concert in Majorca Island, Spain, due to his detention by the Nigeria Police Force.
He had been arrested on allegations of assaulting a policeman.
While he was expected to appear in court at the Yaba Magistrate’s Court, the trial has been adjourned until July 3.
During a courtroom session on Wednesday, tension rose as the Chief Magistrate, Adeola Olatubosun, and the police clashed over new charges brought against Kuti.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) played a crucial role in blocking these fresh charges.
Falana raised significant objections to the delayed presentation of new charges and the police’s failure to comply with a court order to send the case file to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Falana argued that the police had disregarded the law, which mandates that new charges be presented at least 48 hours in advance, allowing the defendant ample time to prepare a defense.
He also criticized the police for not complying with the Chief Magistrate’s order, issued on May 16, 2023, to send the case file to the DPP.
Falana warned that unless the police appealed the judge’s order, they would not be able to prosecute Kuti.
The situation surrounding Seun Kuti’s legal battle and the clash between the Chief Magistrate and the police has attracted attention and scrutiny.
To get a better understanding of the events, you can watch the video shared by the platform below.