The trial of Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has been adjourned by the Chief Magistrates Court in Yaba, Lagos State. The court sitting was unable to proceed as the presiding magistrate, Adeola Olatubosun, was absent. Seun Kuti has been taken back to the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, while awaiting the rescheduled hearing.

This development comes after reports emerged that the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State command, was allegedly planning to have Seun Kuti taken to the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, to undergo an assessment of his mental health. Concerns were raised that such a move could have negative implications for his musical career both in Nigeria and internationally.

Earlier, Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun had granted the police’s request for a four-day extension of Seun Kuti’s remand. The extension was sought to allow further investigation into the case, as stated by Simon Lough (SAN), who led the police legal team.

Furthermore, documents revealed that the court had ordered the collection of Seun’s blood samples for examination by a medical doctor, in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law. However, Seun Kuti reportedly refused to provide the samples for testing.

The #FreeSeunKuti campaign, supported by various organizations such as the African Action Congress (AAC) and the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), called for the Nigeria Police Force to drop what they considered to be fabricated charges against Seun Kuti and release him from detention. Activist Francis Nwapa urged Nigerian youths, workers, and the general public to join the campaign and attend the court sitting scheduled for May 23, 2023, at the Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos State.

The adjournment of Seun Kuti’s trial and the alleged attempt to declare him mentally ill have raised concerns about the potential impact on his music career. Supporters of the #FreeSeunKuti campaign continue to call for his release, emphasizing the need for a fair and just resolution to the case.