PSC: Seun Kuti must be promptly prosecuted for assaulting police officer

Solomon Arase, chairperson of the Police Service Commission (PSC), says Seun Kuti, the Afrobeat singer, must be prosecuted over an assault on a police officer in Lagos state.

On Saturday, a now-viral footage surfaced on social media showing Kuti slapping a uniformed policeman.

In the video, Kuti can be seen charging at the officer on the roadside before proceeding to smack his face.

Reacting to the incident, Usman Baba, inspector-general of police, ordered the arrest of the musician.

Baba also directed that a probe be carried out to ascertain the facts of the case.

Defending his action, Kuti claimed that the officer tried to kill him and his family.

In a statement on Sunday, Ikechukwu Ani, spokesperson of PSC, said the commission and Arase condemn the action while commending the IGP for his directive.

Arase also commended the police officer in question for staying calm despite the provocation.

He added that the police must use the incident to set a precedent that assault on police officers cannot be tolerated.

“As civilised people, we must explore established channels of complaints against alleged infractions by law enforcement officials rather than this uncouth behaviour of assaulting the symbol of authority in our country,” the PSC chairperson said.

“We look forward to the prompt prosecution of Seun to act as a deterrent to others of his ilk.”