Kazeem Owoseni
A public affairs analyst and political commentator, Deji Adeyanju, has knocked the popular Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, over his unruly behaviour towards a police officer he assaulted on the third mainland bridge in Lagos, on Saturday.
Seun, the son of the late Talakuta singer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, was seen in a viral video, assaulting and slapping a police officer in Lagos on Saturday.
However, the celebrity took to his Instagram page, shortly after the incident, claiming that the officer had apologised to him, for an alleged attempt to kill him and his family.
“He tried to kill me and my family. I have the proof, but I no dey chase clout.
“He has apologised and I have agreed not to press charges. Make una mind una business. Make the poor guy no lose his job,” he wrote.
Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali-Baba, ordered his arrest, full interrogation, and investigation of what transpired, and possible prosecution, on the matter.
Meanwhile, reports revealed that he apologised to the victim, who followed him to his Allen Avenue residence on Saturday and gave him a sum of N12,000 to fix his damaged car, yesterday.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin who confirmed Punch report on this said,
“Although the investigation is still ongoing, your correspondence is correct. Seun Kuti apologized to the officer on Saturday and gave him ₦12,000 to repair his damaged vehicle after the officer followed him to his house in Ikeja after the altercation.
“Fortunately, the policeman had earlier reported the incident at the Area F Police Command, and deposited the ₦12,000 with the Command, before the video of the assault went viral on social media.”
The musician risks three years imprisonment according to section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, if found guilty of assault against the yet-to-be-named police officer.
Seun’s lawyer, Chief Femi Fala, while speaking on the issue on Sunday, said Sheun had briefed him about the issue and that he had enough evidence to back himself up, noting that, that was not the first time, he will be dealing with the police.
Chief Falana, explained further that, his client will turn himself up to the police, on Monday.
However, reports revealed that the 40-year-old singer, reported at the Lagos State Police Headquarters in Ikeja, on Monday, and he was subsequently arrested, handcuffed, and snapped barefooted, by the police.
In his reaction to the development, Deji Adeyanju who berated the celebrity for his action, said people who fail to control their anger, will end up like him.
“People who don’t learn to control their anger will end up like Seun Kuti with regrets,” he wrote.
Deji, who prayed that anger should not be our master, also appealed to the police, not to slap or maltreat him, in retaliation for what he did to the officer.
“I appeal to the police and its officers, who have now detained Seun Kuti upon his voluntary surrender, not to slap him back in retaliation or torture him. Ours should be a nation where the right thing is done at all times,” Adeyanju wrote on his Facebook page.
“May your anger or temper not be your master,” he prayed.
