Kenneth Okonkwo Faults Police Handcuffing Of Seun Kuti

Nollywood actor and Spokesman for the Labour Party (LP), Kenneth Okonkwo has faulted the Nigeria Police Force for handcuffing Nigerian singer, Seun Kuti after he voluntarily surrendered to the police.

Recall that Seun Kuti turned himself in, to the police on Monday morning, after his altercation with a policeman last Saturday.

He was accompanied by his lawyer and a family representative.

He was arrested, handcuffed by the police, and moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department, popularly known as Panti, in Yaba, Lagos State.

Kanyi Daily reported that Seun was seen in a viral video, pushing and also slapping a policeman on the Third Mainland bridge in Lagos State.

The singer, who is the youngest child of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti while assaulting the officer was heard saying, “You dey crase, you dey mad?”, but the cop kept his cool throughout the whole confrontation.

Subsequently, the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba ordered the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, to arrest the singer for assaulting a police officer in uniform.

Alkali Baba equally ordered a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Kenneth Okonkwo noted that violence against any Nigerian citizen should not be condoned, especially when the person is a law enforcement agent.

He, however, said it was unlawful for the police to handcuff Seun after he voluntarily surrendered to the police.

To back up his position, the LP spokesman quoted Section 5(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which states, “A suspect or defendant may not be handcuffed, bound or be subjected to restraint except there is a reasonable apprehension of violence or an attempt to escape”.

Part of his tweet continued, “A person who voluntarily submitted to the police can not be presumed to be violent or planning to escape.

“We must learn in this country to maintain the rule of law no matter who is involved as we keep our focus on building a new Nigeria.”

As a spokesperson for a movement seeking the entrenchment of the rule of law, I must admit that unlawful violence against any Nigeria citizen should not be condoned, especially when the person is a law enforcement agent. However, it's unlawful for the police to handcuff Seun … pic.twitter.com/akBifTyGaR

— Kenneth Okonkwo (@realkenokonkwo) May 16, 2023

In the latest update on the case, the state police command has refused to grant the bail application of the Afrobeat star.

In other news, the Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday, pledged to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure the country is safe during the May 29 transition period.