‘First day was difficult… the heat, smell’ — Seun Kuti recounts ordeal in prison

Seun Kuti, the Afrobeat singer, has recounted his eight-day ordeal at the state criminal investigation department (SCID) in Panti, Yaba. 

On May 15, Seun was apprehended after he was filmed assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge.

He was detained and arraigned before the magistrate’s court in Yaba the following day.

The police sought to get an order to further keep him in custody for 21 days pending the conclusion of its investigation.

But Adeola Olatubosun, the chief magistrate, ordered the police to detain him for additional 48 hours and release him on bail.

Olatubuson later extended Seun’s remand for additional four days to allow the police to continue with their investigation.

Seun was released to his family on May 23 after spending eight days in police custody.

The magistrate also adjourned the case until July 3 for mention.

Speaking in a recent video shared on his social media pages, Seun recalled his ugly experience while in detention.

The Afrobeat star said the first 24 hours in prison were “difficult” for him owing to the “extreme” heat and overpopulation.

The singer, who is the youngest son of Fela Kuti, the late Afrobeat legend, said he became used to the “heat and smell” in his new environment on the following day.

“Prison, first day was difficult. I didn’t go to prison, I was only detained in a cell. I was in a police station locked up,” he said.

“I heard that at Kirikiri correctional centre, they would allow us out all day and allow you to move out at night, but for that police station, they just keep you locked down.

“All day, all night. They just lock you inside this room with no light. Like 30-something people in a three-man cell. It’s crazy. The heat ehn? The heat and the smell. It was like after two days I got used to it. It just became routine.

“If I had had a godfather, I wouldn’t have stayed in prison for eight days”.

Shortly after he regained freedom, Seun updated his profile on Instagram to reflect his title in prison.

The musician is currently out of the country for his concert tour in Europe.