He was taken into custody on May 16 after he submitted himself at the  State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos State.

The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, had ordered the arrest of the musician after he was captured in a viral video assaulting a policeman on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos on May 13.

Seun’s elder sister, Yeni Kuti, told our correspondent on Tuesday that the musician had met the terms of his bail granted him by the magistrate and was released.

Yeni said Lande Ransome-Kuti and Funke Kuti stood as the sureties for Seun.

She said, “They have perfected his bail, the judge has signed and the sureties have been accepted.

“They have gone to the sureties’ houses to inspect,  Lande and Funke stood as sureties for him.”

Seun’s attorney, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, (SAN), in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday night, confirmed the development.

He said, “Yes, Seun Kuti has just was released minutes ago.

“His bail conditions has been perfected since last Thursday, but the police asked for an extension of his remand until today (Tuesday).”

The police had on May 16 taken the musician before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, where the magistrate granted the police an order to detain him for 48 hours.

The magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, said at the expiration of the 48 hours, the musician should be released on bail in the sum of “ N1m with two responsible sureties, a three years tax payment receipt that is verifiable; one of the sureties must have a landed property within the court jurisdiction.”

The magistrate ordered the police to forward the case file to the Lagos State Directorate or Public Proscutions for legal advice.

But on the expiration of the 48 hours, the police returned and obtained an order to remand Seun Kuti for additional four days to conclude investigations.

The additional remand lapsed on Tuesday.

In the charges filed against him, the police alleged that Seun Kuti assaulted a police officer, obstructed his lawful duty and conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace on May 13, 2023.

The police alleged that the singer drove dangerously on the highway outward Third Mainland Bridge and deliberately grabbed a policeman in uniform, raining slaps to his face.

Meanwhile, following the delay of his bail, on Tuesday morning at the Yaba Chief Magistrates Court, Lagos State, youths gathered outside the court to protest and demand the freedom of the Afrobeat musician.

The  protesters  were seen holding banners and placards as they chanted “Free Seun Kuti Now!”

Kuti’s lawyer, in a statement, slammed the investigation conducted by Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, regarding the incident.

Olumide-Fusika, in the same statement, disclosed that not only did the police refuse to provide his client with food, but his wife was denied access to him as well, causing the music star to starve.

He continued saying that Kuti would address Hundeyin’s published “investigative findings” in due course, at an appropriate time and place, defending himself against any allegations made.

He said, “Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin who goes by the formal title of Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer but doubles as the Investigating Police Officer into the case of alleged assault of a policeman by my client, Mr. Seun Kuti, has issued a Report of his investigative work.

“Mr. Seun Kuti would have expected that having completed his investigative work, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, a law enforcer, would proceed according to law by sending the file containing his report of investigation for legal evaluation towards possible prosecution.

“Mr. Seun Kuti is nevertheless not surprised that Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin chose instead to make his investigative report the subject of the media publication, as for instance, in the Punch online publication of Monday, May 15, 2023, titled ‘Assault: Seun Kuti apologised, gave cop ₦‎12,000 to repair the vehicle, police say’.

According to Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, in his investigative report handed over to The Punch, ‘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.’

“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.’

“Although he had been with the Police since 8:00 am on Monday 15th May 2023, Mr. Seun Kuti notes that it was at about 8:00 pm that day, after Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin had already completed and published his investigative report above, that he was asked to make a statement to the Police at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.

“Mr. Seun Kuti has therefore volunteered to his interlocutors a statement to the effect that since Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin has already done the investigation and issued and published his report on it, there was no useful purpose to be served by any statement from him. He will, at the right time and place, and in as rigorous a manner possible under the law, defend himself against Mr. Hundeyin’s published ‘investigative findings’.

“The consequence of this for Mr. Seun Kuti was that his wife was refused the “privilege” of delivering a meal to him, even though there was no other arrangement in place to have him fed. We await the next move of the Police on the allegation of crime against Mr. Seun Kuti.”

Recall that Seun Kuti was arrested and handcuffed on Monday following his visit to the state police command.

The SAN, who confirmed the development said the singer had enough evidence to defend himself.

This was as the Police Service Commission demanded the immediate prosecution of the musician, saying  no one had the right to assault a policeman in uniform and on official duty, no matter the offence committed by police officer.

Falana said, “I am his (Seun Kuti’s) lawyer and he has briefed me. He certainly has evidence. This is not the first time he is dealing with the police.”

There were also speculations on Sunday that a team of police officers drafted to effect Kuti’s arrest could not locate him upon getting to his residence.

However, efforts to confirm the development from the police authorities proved abortive, as the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, and the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, did not respond to inquiries by our correspondent.

Falana while reacting to this disclosed that the embattled singer would turn himself in on Monday.

He added, “He (Seun) is going to report himself to the police tomorrow (Monday) morning. There is no problem at all.”

a viral video of the musician assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State went viral on Saturday.

In the 12-second video, Kuti, who wore a red shirt and white pair of trousers, was seen pushing a policeman, who stood beside a Toyota Hilux police van. He then proceeded to slap the cop, as he shouted, “You dey craze, you dey mad?”

A motorist, who filmed the incident from his car, was heard saying, “Omo na Kuti o. Na better news be this o.”

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, reacting, ordered the arrest of the singer.

The IG equally ordered a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the alleged assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly.

This was as the musician, in a social media post on Saturday, alleged that the policeman in question made an attempt on his life and those of his family members.

The PSC Chairman, Dr Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector-General of Police, said Seun’s arraignment would serve as a deterrent to other citizens, adding that no one has the right to assault a policeman in uniform and on official duty, no matter the offence committed by police officer.

The Head, Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement on Sunday,  said, “The commission demands that the culprit must be arraigned immediately and that the Inspector General must ensure that the matter is followed to its logical conclusion to restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police as the lead agency in internal security and in its ability to maintain law and order and also protect lives and properties.

“We look forward to the prompt prosecution of Seun to act as a deterrent to others of his ilk.”

Arase commended the police officer for refusing to be provoked by the action of his aggressor, a development he said would have been more fatal.

“The PSC chairman said it was unfortunate that at a time the management of the Nigeria Police were dealing decisively with officers who harass, intimidate or assault civilians on our roads and work places, the same police officers have become victims of the actions of some uncultured elites.

“He said the police should use the present incident to set an example that this will never be tolerated in Nigeria, a country governed by laws, rules and regulations.”

Recall that the Inspector General of Police, Baba Alkali, ordered for Seun’s arrest after a video of him assaulting a police officer surfaced online. The singer was seen pushing and also slapping the police man on Third mainland bridge yesterday Saturday May13th.

Seun shared a post on his IG page last night where he stated that the officer tried to kill him.

Meanwhile, the officer he assaulted has reported to the command headquarters and has given his statement of what transpired between himself and the singer.

He stated this on his Instastories after the IGP ordered his arrest.

A video of Seun slapping and pushing a police officer on third mainland bridge surfaced online this evening.

Seun in a post he shared after the video went viral, claimed the officer wanted to kill him and his family members. He added that the officer has apologised and that he will not be pressing charges.

See his post after the IGP ordered his arrest below…

One of the sons of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Seun Kuti, had earlier sent out flyers announcing a meeting on the lessons from #EndSARS protests. Many activists and #EndSARS campaigners had indicated an interest in attending the meeting before the convener of the meeting, Seun Anikulapo Kuti, said the meeting had been suspended.

The Lagos State Police Command warned that the meeting posed a security threat saying “You are hereby warned to suspend such gathering as any infraction that may emerge from this gathering will be tagged a deliberate action to sabotage the transition and restoration of the peace in Lagos State by the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force,”

It was learnt that policemen were strategically placed on streets leading to the Afrika Shrine, a popular relaxation spot in the Ikeja area of Lagos State. Some policemen were also seen at the entrance of the venue of the botched meeting.

Seun said in a series of tweets, “Yesterday, the government called my eldest sister, Yeni Anikalpo Kuti, and threatened to close the shrine if I hold my event there tomorrow and also sent a letter to back it up. I respect my families’ decision not to hold the event as is but I will still go ahead with all the other organisations to launch THE MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE tomorrow and start our political resistance to the tyranny of this oppressive regime. This is a meeting, just a meeting of organisations and they are basically banning the right of association. Why are they afraid of the people organising? What is democratic about this act? The last time we tried to launch the government quickly called curfew and this time they have used threat but you can’t stop the will of the people.”

The music star made this known during an interview with Object TV, when he was asked about the recent attack on a popular Nigerian Senator, Ike Ekweremadu in Germany by members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB)

He said “What I would say is that next time any group of Nigerians are planning to beat up any Nigerian politician, and they don’t let me know about it, I will be very offended. That is the only thing I have to say about that because I was in Europe. The more hands, the merrier”