In an ongoing investigation of the assault on a Lagos police officer by Afrobeats singer, Seun Kuti, the Lagos State Police Command has said the musician was at fault.
In an exclusive report by The PUNCH, it was gathered that following the incident that led to the arrest and detention Seun Kuti on Monday, the suspect had apologised and given the sum of ₦12,000 to the assaulted officer to repair his damaged vehicle on Saturday.
According to the report, Impeccable sources privy to the incident confirmed that the officer had trailed Seun Kuti to his Akin Osiyemi residence off Allen Avenue, Ikeja after the musician bashed his vehicle on the Third Mainland bridge.
A source said, “Seun Kuti was the one that bashed the officer’s vehicle, and the policeman followed him to call his attention to it, but the musician alighted from his car and slapped the policeman as seen in the trending video. However, the officer reported the incident at the Police Command in Ikeja.”
Another source reportedly claimed, “The policeman was alone. After the altercation, he followed Seun Kuti to his home in Ikeja, and the musician apologised to the policeman and gave him ₦12,000 to repair his damaged vehicle.
“But the officer reported the incident at the Area F Police Command in Ikeja, and deposited the ₦12,000 at the counter while he gave a written statement concerning the incident.”
Seun Kuti is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, popularly known as, Panti, in Yaba, Lagos State, following a visit to the FCID over the alleged assault.
Earlier, the 40-year-old was accompanied by a lawyer representing Falana and Falana Chambers, the law firm of popular human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, also confirmed that report, stating that Seun Kuti had on Saturday apologised to the assaulted policeman and given him the sum of ₦12,000 for vehicle repair.
He said, “Although the investigation is still ongoing, but 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.
