In the docket of the Special Miscellaneous Offenses Tribunal in Lagos in 1996, an elderly Fela Anikulapo Kuti was included. On January 14, 1997, a raid by members of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), then under the command of Maj-Gen. Musa Bamaiyi, resulted in the arrest of at least 100 persons, including kids.
Bamaiyi and Fela clashed about the negative effects of Indian hemp during a live TV show. Femi Falana, Fela’s attorney, pointed out that Fela pulled a quick one on the NDLEA by signing his interrogation charge sheet with the remark “in chains” next to it. This was FELA’S CLEVER “TRAP.”
Because the statement was acquired under duress, Femi Falana persuaded the court to discard it!
Fela then filed a lawsuit against the NDLEA N100M, alleging that they had violated his basic rights to human dignity, personal liberty, and a fair trial. Now humiliated, NDLEA begged Fela to drop his civil lawsuit and offered to drop the criminal case. When Falana inquired about Fela’s acceptance of the NDLEA’s proposition, Fela allegedly replied, “NA GOOD DEAL AS BAMAIYI DON BEG ME”.
