Seun Kuti, a Nigerian musician, singer, and the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, faces three years imprisonment after assaulting a policeman in Lagos.
A passerby had recorded Seun repeatedly slapping a policeman in an unnamed area of the commercial city.
The video went viral, with many Nigerians condemning the Afro beats star for his conduct.
Justifying his action, Kuti wrote on his Instagram story:
“He tried to kill me and my family. I have the proof but I no dey chase clout. He has apologised, and I have agreed not to press charges.”
In reaction, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, ordered the arrest of Kuti.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations officer, in a terse statement, stated that:
“IGP Usman Alkali Baba assures Nigerians that acts of contempt/disdain for symbols of authority will not be tolerated while offenders of such hideous crimes will be surely brought to book.”
Like most countries, assaulting a police officer in Nigeria is a felony.
An attack or assault on a law enforcement agent is a severe offence punishable with at least three years of jail term in Nigeria.
Section 356 of the criminal code act identifies the following actions as serious assaults.
Any person who:
(1) Assaults another with intent to commit a felony, or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful arrest or detention of himself or of any other person; or
(2) Assaults, resists, or wilfully obstructs a police officer while acting in the execution of his duty, or any person acting in aid of a police officer while so acting; or
(3) Unlawfully assaults, resists, or obstructs, any person engaged in the lawful execution of any process against any property, or in making a lawful distress, while so engaged; or
(4) Assaults, resists, or obstructs any person engaged in such lawful execution of process, or in making a lawful distress, with intent to rescue any property lawfully taken under such process or distress; or
(5) Assaults any person on account of any act done by him in the execution of any duty imposed on him by law; or
(6) Assaults any person in pursuance of any unlawful conspiracy respecting any manufacture, trade, business, or occupation, or respecting any person or persons concerned or employed in any manufacture, trade, business, or occupation, or the wages of any such person or person.
