The embattled singer, Seun Kuti’s manager, Ayo Moses, tells TOFARATI IGE how the former is faring in police detention
Seun has been remanded in detention for four more days. How is his mood and spirit?
It (further detention) came to us as a big shock, but on the other hand, it was not so surprising, because we are seeing the methodology that the police are deploying in this matter. It appears to us that what is most important to the Nigeria Police is not justice but a kind of vendetta. Recall that before and during the #EndSARS protests, and even long before that, there has been a longstanding disagreement between the Kuti family and the Nigeria Police Force.
However, I can assure you that Seun is in high spirits, even as we speak. There is really no cause for alarm. We know what the police are trying to do. But, he remains very strong and focused.
Are you of the opinion that the police are now trying to intimidate him?
Yes, it has become very clear to the whole world that the NPF is overdoing things in an attempt to intimidate him. From what we have seen, it is apparent that something provoked that incident (assault on policeman). Seun is not a mad man. He could not have gone on the street and just start slapping a police officer. Something must have happened. That is why it is important for thorough investigations to be carried out, and the parties involved in the case are brought to justice, so that whoever might have done wrong can be found guilty.
After he was already in their custody, they went to his house to look for anything they could use to detain him further. They have taken him to the magistrate’s court twice without the knowledge of his lawyers. We have also seen that they have successfully remanded him for four more days, even though they don’t have any clear ‘charge’ against him. One would have expected that a charge sheet would have been prepared and brought before the court. But, what the police did in the first instance, was to ask for 21 days to remand him, so that they can ‘conduct investigations’. The court denied that request, and granted him 48 hours suspended bail. To our shock, when we got to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos, the police went into the court without the knowledge of his lawyer. And, one way or the other, they got four more days to remand him. We think that this intimidation is getting out of hand. On another note, it is allowing Nigerians to see that indeed, the police are after vengeance, not justice.
It was reported that he was humiliated by some police officers in custody, and his wife was not allowed to take food to him. Has the situation changed?
Indeed, it is humiliation if we consider the fact that a man who they ordered his arrest turned himself in, yet, they still had to put handcuffs on him, took a picture of him, removed his shoes and paraded him barefoot among criminals. Meanwhile, according to the law, he is still innocent until proven guilty. His wife tried to take food to him, but she was denied access to him. Even though we cannot say he was starved, he was denied food for some time. It does appear that the situation has improved though.
It was reported that his wife’s phone was seized when the police went to search their house some days ago. Has the phone been returned?
When they went to search the house, they seized the phones of his wife, and stopped members of his family from recording what exactly transpired. However, that was resisted, and the phone was returned to her.
What else was taken from his house during the search?
I was not there when the police arrived at the house for the search. But, based on the questions I have asked, I am not sure anything was taken out of the house during the search. I cannot particularly confirm that information, but to the best of my knowledge, nothing was taken, unless I was not informed. But, if something was taken, I believe I would have been informed.
The police put out a statement calling for people who witnessed the incident to come forward. But, Seun claimed he had evidence of what transpired and prompted his action. What can you tell us about that?
In terms of what prompted his action as well as the evidence he has, I might not be able to speak on that. I believe that will be left until the case goes further in court. In terms of the police requesting for witnesses of the incident, I am not sure anyone has come forward, even though the police offered protection. I actually think it was just a publicity stunt. What would anyone do to any witness who is coming to present an eyewitness account before the court?
What form of support has Seun got from his family and civil society groups?
In terms of the support he has got from family and civil society groups, some activists have come out with different positions on this matter. I can tell you that there has been tremendous support from civil society groups. His family members were also in court on the first day. The support has been relatively good.
It is said that he has some international shows lined up. What exactly has he lost in that regard with his detention?
It is unfortunate that the police are particularly targeting the international shows he has lined up. They are looking for how to deprive him of the opportunity to conduct his legitimate business, and that will have consequences on the lives of the people who depend on him for one support or the other. That is not to mention the fact that he brings in legitimate foreign exchange into the country. So, yes, there are downsides to that, but so far justice is done, even though there will be losses, he would still be able to carry on with the rest of his duties and obligations to his partners, promoters and associates.
Some people are of the opinion that whatever might have transpired, Seun had no right to have assaulted and humiliated the policeman in question. What’s your reaction to that?
In terms of him humiliating the policeman, the matter has not been duly investigated and presented to the court for proper hearing so, I might not be able to speak much on that. But, recall that shortly after the incident, Seun made a post where he said that he and the policeman had had a chat, and the man had apologised to him. He added that he would like people not to comment further, so that the man would not lose his job. I believe strongly that there is something that Seun knows in respect of what transpired. There had been a reconciliation and both of them had agreed to move on. But, it does appear like the authorities might have told the policeman in question to go underground, so that the peace talk that occurred between him and Seun would be buried; and they can get a chance to exact vengeance on Seun. However, we will leave the court to decide on that.
