Seun Kuti assures his fans all is well as he flies to Zurich kick-starting his European tour

AFROBEAT musician Seun Kuti has flown out of Nigeria to commence his European summer tour  following his release from police custody on Wednesday informing his teaming fans that he will be starting the extravaganza in Zurich in Switzerland.

 

Seun, 40, the son of musical legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, was declared wanted by the inspector general of police Usman Baba, after slapping a policeman on the Third Mainland Bridge earlier this month. Mr Baba asked the Lagos State police commissioner to arrest Seun and earlier this week, the singer handed himself in voluntarily at the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command in Panti Street, Yaba.

 

Accompanied by a lawyer representing Falana Chambers, the law firm of popular human rights activist Femi Falana, Seun reported to the front desk, after which he was promptly arrested. He was subsequently handcuffed and his photograph taken in line with police procedure ahead of being charged to court.

 

Over the last week Seun has had his detention extended, his house has been searched twice and fellow detainees named him their religious leader and general overseer. On Wednesday, however, Seun was finally freed on bail and he immediately flew out of the country on Thursday to honour several contractual gigs he has signed up to.

 

Lawyers Femi Falana and Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika have said their client’s decision to travel to Switzerland yesterday amid his ongoing case is not unlawful or illegal. They added that Seun is currently not being prosecuted in court by the Nigeria Police Force or any other prosecuting authority.

 

Seun confirmed his departure this on his Instagram page, sharing a picture of himself on the plane with the caption: “Euro tour kicks off tonight in Zurich.”

 

Mr Falana said: “Anytime he is required to stand his trial, he will appear in court. Seun Kuti is presumed innocent until the contrary is proven. As far as we’re concerned, once the state files a charge and a date is fixed for arraignment, he will be in court

 

“There’s nothing illegal about a person travelling out of the country while they’re on bail. The issue of depositing his passport was not one of the conditions for his bail. As far as we’re concerned, once the state files a charge and a date is fixed for arraignment.”

 

Mr Olumide-Fusika added that Seun is currently not being prosecuted, pointing out that it was left to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) to make a decision on the matter once it receives the case file. He added:  “He will surely be in court on July 3, 2023,and on each day he’s required to appear.

 

"It should, however, be noted that Mr Seun Kuti is not being prosecuted in court whether by the Nigeria Police Force or any other prosecuting authority. The DPP, after receiving and studying the police investigation file will decide the offences Mr Kuti is to be charged with and it is after being charged with specific offences that Mr Kuti will be arraigned to take his plea.

 

"If he pleads not guilty, trial dates will be set and the trial will take place. If he pleads guilty, he will be sentenced to appropriate punishment.”

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