Reports have emerged that Seun Kuti, the Afrobeat musician who was arrested and detained on Monday, had apologised and given the assaulted officer ₦12,000 to repair his damaged vehicle on Saturday.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the development was confirmed sources familiar with the incident.
This newspaper learnt that the officer had followed Seun Kuti to his residence 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.”
“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,” another source said.
Seun Kuti is presently in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (Panti) in Yaba, Lagos State, following a visit to the FCID over the alleged assault. The musician was accompanied by a lawyer representing Falana and Falana Chambers, the law firm of popular human rights activist Femi Falana, SAN.
Viral pictures and video clips show Seun Kuti in handcuffs while being paraded by police officers at the SCID, Lagos.
Responding to an inquiry about Seun’s apology and monetary tip, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said Seun Kuti apologised and gave the officer the sum of ₦12,000 for vehicle repair, The Punch reports.
Hundeyin 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.”
It should be recalled that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had earlier ordered the arrest of the musician and also directed a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the alleged assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly.
