Seun Kuti: Trial Stalled by Absence of Chief Magistrate

By Starrys Obazei | July 3, 2023.
starrys@ddnewsonline.com.

Afrobeat Musician, Seun Kuti’s trial has suffered a setback over the absence of Chief Magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun of the Yaba Magistrates’s court.

The registrar, Mr. Babalola, in the absence of the chief Magistrate, Olatunbosun, adjourned the case till September 27, 2023, for the continuation of the proceeding.

Magistrate Olatunbosun was said to have resumed her administrative leave and was thus absent in court today.

Recall that the Lagos State Police Command arraigned the Afrobeat musician, on May 16, 2023.

The defendant was charged with assault on a police officer, an offense contrary to Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act.

Meanwhile, on May 24, Magistrate Olatunbosun in her ruling stated that the police cannot be the complainant and also the prosecutor of the case. She, therefore, requested the DPP’s advice to continue the prosecution.

She said: “I need the advice of the DPP to know whether he should be prosecuted or not.”

She thus adjourned the case till July 3, 2023, for the DPP’s advice.

However, today the case was further adjourned for the continuation of proceeding following the absence of Magistrate Olatunbosun.