The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that Seun Kuti offered a bribe to police officers and tendered apology to cover misconduct.
Responding to an inquiry concerning the apology and monetary tip, in a telephone interview with our correspondent the Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police command, David Hundeyin, confirmed the apology and the N12,000 offer by Seun Kuti.
Hundeyin said, “Although the investigation is still ongoing, your correspondence is correct. Seun Kuti apologised to the officer on Saturday, and gave him N12,000 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 N12, 000 with the command, before the video of the assault went viral on social media,” he added.
As condemnation trailed the assault video on social media, the IG ordered the musician’s arrest.
Also, the Police Service Commission, on Sunday, issued a strong statement, demanding the prosecution of the musician to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to toe the same path.
Meanwhile, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and Kuti’s counsel accompanied to the police station, criticized the police for allegedly subjecting his client to a media trial.
The SAN complained that “Mr Seun Kuti was handcuffed and his photograph taken in the open by the Lagos PPRO, Mr Benjamin Hundeyin, who coordinated the parade and apparently shared the photograph of his parade in the media.”
Fasuki claimed that “Mr Kuti is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved by the state. Therefore, the decision of the police to subject him to the media parade violates Section 9 of the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, which has prohibited any form of a parade of criminal suspects in Nigeria in Lagos State.”