Kenneth Okonkwo, a veteran Nollywood actor turned Labour Party (LP) chieftain, has slammed the Lagos State Police for mistreating Nigerian Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti.
According to Buzzy Vibes, the police publicized images and videos of Kuti cuffed and his shoes removed while confirming the singer’s incarceration.
Among the responses to the news, a curious Twitter user scolded the cops for their actions.
In response, Nigerian Police Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi indicated that it was a regular procedure before an individual was imprisoned.
However, in a social media post, Kenneth Okonkwo stated that handcuffing the singer after he freely surrendered was illegal.
According to him, a person who freely surrendered to the police cannot be believed to be violent or planning to flee, and Nigeria must learn to uphold the rule of law regardless of who is involved.
He said, “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 Kuti after he voluntarily surrendered to the police. Section 5(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 states, “A suspect or defendant may not be handcuffed, bound or be subjected to restraint except there is reasonable apprehension of violence or an attempt to escape”.
“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”
Recall that Kuti was over the weekend, involved in an altercation with a police officer on the Third Mainland bridge in Lagos and slapped the officer during the encounter.
Following the encounter, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba ordered the arrest of the singer for investigation.
On Monday, the Lagos Police PRO, Ben Hundeyin confirmed the arrest of Kuti after he turned up at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, in the company of his lawyer and family representative.
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