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Court extends Seun Kuti’s detention by 4 days as police deny parading him


Court extends Seun Kuti’s detention by 4 days as police deny parading him
A Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, in Lagos, yesterday, granted an application for an extension of remand of embattled afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, for additional four days.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Olatubosun, extended Kuti’s remand until May 22.
Mr. Simon Lough, who led a police legal team to the court, had moved the application.
According to him, the extension is to allow for further investigation into the case.
Mr. Kuti was charged with assaulting a police officer, when he allegedly slapped an Inspector of Police, after driving dangerously on the Third Mainland Bridge, in Lagos State, and deliberately blocking a moving police vehicle, on May 13, 2023.
He was earlier arraigned, on Tuesday, May 16, during which the chief magistrate ordered his remand for 48 hours.
She, however, held that the defendant should be admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum, at the end of the 48-hour remand, stating that one of the sureties must be a landlord within the jurisdiction of the court.
She adjourned the case to May 22, 2023, for mention and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the state director of public prosecutions for advice.
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We didn’t parade Seun —Police
Meanwhile the Police faulted insinuation by Seun’s defense counsel that he (Seun) was paraded, urging him to desist from engaging in media trial and allow the judicial process take its full course.
In a statement by Head of Chambers for the Nigeria Police, DCP Simon Lough, SAN, said: “Seun Kuti was not paraded as erroneously alleged by his lawyers. It was his photograph, fingerprints, name and address that were taken as provided for in the law.
“It has become imperative to correct some misrepresentations being circulated on social media solely to garner sympathy from the public and to divert attention from the fact in issue.
“First of all, there is no law that prohibits the use of handcuffs to restrain a suspect, especially a suspect that has shown tendency of violence like Seun Kuti that has already shown acts of violence by attacking and slapping a police officer in uniform and even threatening his wife in the process.
“Secondly, section 10(4) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State allows the taking of photographs of suspects arrested for identification and record purpose.
“The Nigeria Police equally appeals to the defence team of Seun Kuti to desist from engaging in media trial/defence of their client and allow the judicial process take its full course.
Seun’s lawyer faults Police media trial
But reacting to claims by Mr Lough, the defence team of Kuti, Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, urged the Magistrate Court to send the case file to the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution “for legal evaluation and possible charge and prosecution before a court of law.”
Olumide-Fusika, in a statement, faulted the continued remand of the embattled singer.
He said: “My attention has been drawn to a tweeted public statement ascribed to you, which, inter alia, appeals to the defence team of Mr Seun Kuti to desist from engaging in media trial/defence of their client and allow the judicial process take its course.
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“You are of course aware of the names and identities of those to whom your advice was directed. That being the case, you should have honoured your own advice against “media trial/defence” by reaching out to them otherwise than through a tweet to the whole world.
Your predilection is, however, understandable and forgiven considering that you are first and foremost a Deputy Commissioner of Police and therefore bound to obey the last order of your superiors in the Nigeria Police Force.
“Otherwise, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the unethical implication of your exertion and conduct in court would not have been lost on you. To your knowledge, the bail granted to Mr Kuti at the court session of Tuesday, May 16, 2023, was not on the application of the Police or its legal team. It was on the oral application and at the instance of Mr Kuti’s legal team, having chanced upon the ex-parte attempt of the Police to keep Mr Kuti under Police detention for twenty-one more days as from said May 16 2023.
“It should, therefore, have occurred to you that any application to vary the bail terms, including the term that his release on bail shall be effective after 48 hours from that date (which was what you went to court today to make and obtain) cannot be ex parte but on notice to Mr Kuti’s Defence team. In your elevated position as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, you ought not to be caught in any scheme having the potential of making a mockery of the rule of law and exposing the Court administration of Justice to ridicule. Mr Kuti will say no more on this for now.
“Well, now that Mr Kuti has been put in manacles and taken on parade from one police station to another and from one location to the other across Lagos State since Monday, May 15, 2023, when exactly is he going to be charged for, as you put it in your statement, “attacking and slapping a police officer in uniform?”
“Mr. Seun Kuti is patiently waiting to be charged to court for the alleged offence so that he can offer his defence. That should not be too much for a suspect to expect. I do hope that you will use your position as a lawyer, and indeed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, counselling the Police in this matter, to obey the order of the Magistrate Court to send the case file to the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution for legal evaluation and possible charge and prosecution before a court of law.”
Court extends Seun Kuti’s detention by 4 days as police deny parading him
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Jubilation as Buhari arrives Katsina after Tinubu’s inauguration


Jubilation as Buhari arrives Katsina after Tinubu’s inauguration
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Daura, his hometown, Katsina State, a few moments after he handed over the mantle of Nigeria’s leadership to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday.
The white-coloured presidential plane touched down at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport carrying the former president, his wife, Aisha Buhari, and their entourage at about 1:10 pm.
On arrival at the airport, Buhari was warmly received by the newly sworn-in governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda; his deputy, Faruk Jobe, alongside the State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Muhammad Sani, as well as the Senator representing Katsina North, Nasiru Daura, the outgoing Attorney General, and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami among other important personalities.
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In the meantime, residents of Katsina State have already started giving thanks to God Almighty as the former president has successfully completed his eight years tenure, coming back home safely.
According to the Senator representing Katsina North, Senator Daura, Buhari left the country in the best situation and has done the best for the country, thus it’s time for him to enjoy his peaceful and happy retirement.
The outgoing Katsina State Education Commissioner, Badamasi Charanchi, described Buhari as the best president in Nigeria in terms of infrastructural development and security, expecting a continuation of the good work.
Similarly, the AIG Zone 14 Headquarters, Katsina, Abdurrahman Ahmed, explained that Buhari has done his best in security, hoping for improvement under the incoming administration.
Jubilation as Buhari arrives Katsina after Tinubu’s inauguration
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Breaking: Queues return after Tinubu announces fuel subsidy removal


Breaking: Queues return after Tinubu announces fuel subsidy removal
Motorists in long queues for petrol were spotted in many filling stations on Monday in Lagos shortly after President Bola Tinubu announced that “fuel subsidy is gone”.
Newstrends observed a number of petrol stations from Onipanu to Fadeyi on the Ikorodu Road such as NIPCO, NNPC and Mobil with fairly long queues of motorists buying fuel.
Daily Trust also reported that NNPC stations in Ikeja, Alausa, were crowded by motorists who rushed to buy the product.
President Bola Tinubu on Monday said the era of fuel subsidy was gone in Nigeria.
Tinubu made the pronucement while delivering his inaugural speech as the 16th President of Nigeria.
He said, “We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor. Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources.
“We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.”
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Disregard fake news, Usman Baba remains IGP – NPF


Disregard fake news, Usman Baba remains IGP – NPF
The Nigeria Police has urged Nigerians to disregard circulating reports alleging the sacking of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, from the office.
The police reaction followed the ruling of a Federal High Court in Awka which said the continuous stay of the IGP in office contravenes the provisions of Section 18 (8) of the Police Act.
The court adjudged his stay as “unlawful and unconstitutional” and declared him an illegal occupant of the office of the IGP.
The court further held that although the president has the power to appoint and remove an IGP, it is pertinent that those appointed as IGP should have not less than four years to retirement as provided in Section 7(6) of the Police Act.
In its defense, the police said the IGP was appointed in a letter-number SGF.20/S.6/83 dated November 30, 2021, for “a 4-year tenure and his stay in office is within the purview of his appointment”.
The police described the alleged news as “false, unfounded, and perceived to be the handiwork of mischief makers”.
The police in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and issued in the early hours of Monday noted that the “said judgment is subject to appeal”.
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The statement read partly: “It is imperative to note that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, dismissed a suit that sought to compel the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, to vacate his office on March 1, 2023.
“The Federal High Court, in the judgment delivered by Justice J. K. Omotosho, held that going by the provision of Section 7 (6) of the Police Act, 2020, anyone appointed as the IGP has a statutorily recognized four-year tenure.
“It described the IGP’s four-year tenure as sacrosanct, stressing that his retirement as the IGP had nothing to do with age or years of service.
“It is pertinent to state that maintaining the four-year period for individuals appointed as IGP is being institutionalized by the provisions of the law, not on personal grounds to favour an individual, but for the general betterment of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Consequently, members of the public are on this notice advised to ignore the false news making the rounds on social media.
“IGP Usman Alkali Baba remains the Inspector-General of Police and is duty-bound to execute the responsibilities of the office in accordance with extant laws”.
The police authorities further reaffirmed the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police to the improvement of policing services within the country as well as the entrenchment of professionalism and community-oriented policing. platinumpost
Disregard fake news, Usman Baba remains IGP – NPF
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