Protesters on Tuesday gave the Lagos police command a 24-hour ultimatum for the immediate release of Seun Kuti, detained by the command for assaulting a police officer.

The youths staged a protest at Yaba, Lagos on Tuesday, asking police to release Mr Kuti from detention in order to ensure a fair trial in court.

Protesters, under the auspices of Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), African Action Congress (AAC), Movement for African Emancipation (MAE), Pan-African Consciousness Renaissance (PACOR), Workers and Youth Solidarity Network (WYSN), Movement of the People (MOP) and allies gathered at the Yaba Magistrate Court, around 11:00 am on Tuesday.

The protesters, in their numbers, displayed placards with inscriptions such as: “#FreeSeunKutiCampaign,” “Independent Judiciary: Is it really independent,” “End Police Brutality,” among others.

Addressing the protesters, the former chairperson of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Lagos, Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, asked police to tender the evidence gathered from their investigations in court and release Mr Kuti.

“Go and charge Seun, give him bail and charge him. You have evidences enough to tender in court,” Mr Ajayi said.

The former chairperson of AAC in Lagos said the magistrate court is colluding with police by granting them illegal notices without the knowledge of Mr Kuti’s lawyer.

He added that Mr Kuti has suffered illegality in the face of the law, calling police to release him by tomorrow morning or bear the consequences.

“Police officer is a citizen just like Seun. Seun should not be the only person on trial and the police officer is hidden,” Mr Ajayi said.

“He has been granted bail, he should be allowed to enjoy his bail. The magistrate court is colluding illegally with the police to continue to grant them detention notices that his lawyers are unaware.

“They took him to Aro hospital without the knowledge of his lawyer. He was paraded illegally which is against the constitution, enough is enough. If Seun is not released by tomorrow morning the Nigerian rulling class knows what will happen next.”

Another activist, El Rigo, under the aegis of MOP, said Mr Kuti was detained because of his stance against police brutality.

“The reason Seun has been subjected to police trial is because of his stance against the capitalist government that has exploited and subjected the people to misery, slavery and poverty. And, because of his role in the EndSARS protest which is why the Nigeria Police feels it is an opportunity to deal with him,” he said.

“We will not allow this to happen to Seun or any Nigerian, we are going to stand and fight.”

However, the chief magistrate in Yaba’s court, Adeola Olatunbosun was not present in the courtroom on Tuesday.

Mr Kuti alongside his lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, was present in court but the case was adjourned to Wednesday due to the absence of the magistrate.

Mr Olumide-Fusika told Peoples Gazette that the absence of the magistrate will not interfere with the trial.