Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika SAN, one of the lawyers who accompanied Seun kuti to the police station has criticised the police for allegedly subjecting his client to a media trial.
Seun Kuti reported himself at the Police headquarters, Ikeja Lagos on Monday following a video which showed him assaulting a police officer in uniform on third mainland bridge on Saturday and an order by the Inspector General of Police for his arrest.
But Olumide-Fusika in a statement on Monday 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.
He said; “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 parade of criminal suspects in Nigeria in Lagos State.
“The Police is supposed to enforce the Law, but prefers to disrespect and break it so casually and randomly.
“A Police institution that has no respect for the law it exists to enforce is not a good example to alleged law breakers.
“The decision of the police to handcuff Mr. Kuti is equally illegal as it constitutes a violation of Section 5 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
“After handcuffing him, the Police then drove him in a long convoy of heavily armed personnel from Ikeja to Panti Lagos, where he was again displayed for viewing to the men and officers of that police formation, and is currently held.
“We await the next move of the Police on the misdemeanor alleged against Mr. Seun Kuti.”
