Video emerges as Seun Kuti slaps police officer, IGP orders arrest, lawyer reveals legal implication

A viral video of Seun Kuti slapping a police officer in Lagos state has emerged on social media.

The son of Afrobeat originator Fela Kuti was seen aggressively approaching the police officer and pushing him on the chest during the confrontation.

In another angle of the video, the policeman who kept his cool was slapped by the Grammy-nominated Afrobeat sensation.

He was heard saying: “You dey craze? You dey mad?”

As seen in the viral video, the police officer who did not retaliate stood in shock with his hand on his cheek.

Observation from the video shows that Kuti had been stopped on the highway by the policeman for what could be a routine check operation.

Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, described the incident as an assault punishable by law.

When contacted by Legit.ng, he said: "This is totally wrong. It is an abuse and should be totally condemned in the strongest words. I do not care about the circumstances, there is no justification for the assault and inhumane treatment of the police officer who maintained his cool even in the face of harsh provocation.

"This is a clear case of assault punishable under our extant laws. This one is even more grave because it is an assault against an officer of law."

When Legit.ng reached out to the Police PRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, he said he had not seen the viral video.

Moments later, a statement signed by CSP Adejobi confirmed that the inspector-general of police, IGP Usman Baba Alkali, had ordered the immediate arrest of Seun Kuti.

As contained in the statement, he ordered an investigation into the cause of the incident and the prosecution of Seun Kuti.

He further stated that the police force would not tolerate any replica act on a police officer or any other symbol of the law.

Afrobeat Singer, Seun Kuti pushes and slapped a Police officer he was confronting on the Third Mainland bridge pic.twitter.com/R1hB6vyljJ

— GistReel.Com (@GistReel) May 13, 2023