Nigerian Tribunal Grants Musician Fela Bail

LAGOS, Nigeria (Reuter) Maverick Nigerian Afrobeat musician Fela
AnikulapoKuti was granted bail Wednesday by a tribunal trying him on charges
of possessing and smoking marijuana.

Judge Yusuf Tanko Usman said the bail was granted on condition that Fela, as
the performer is widely known, would deposit $5,882 and give two sureties on
landed properties in Lagos.

Drug offenses in Nigeria are normally not bailable.

The judge adjourned any further hearing to Monday.

Fela faces 15 years in jail if convicted on the charges brought against him
by the antinarcotics agency.

Fela's fans who filled the venue expressed jubilation as the judge granted
him bail, but the gauntlooking musician was tightlipped.

His lawyer, Femi Falana, a human rights activist, said, ``We appreciate the
decision of this tribunal to obey the order of the high court which ordered
Fela's release. This attitude of the tribunal judge is the only sure way to
avert anarchy in this country.''

Fela, 59, was arrested April 9 with 107 other people at his ``The Shrine''
nightclub in a workingclass district of Lagos for alleged possession of
cannabis.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has since freed most of the
others arrested with him.

Fela filed a suit at a Lagos court claiming $11,765 in damages from the NDLEA
for alleged violation of his human rights, and a high court judge ordered
that he should be released by the agency.

But the Afrobeat superstar, who is no stranger to controversy or to the jail
cell, was quickly charged before the tribunal by the NDLEA.

A past critic of Nigeria's military rulers but a supporter of ruler Gen. Sani
Abacha, he has a reputation for openly smoking marijuana and dressing only in
his underpants.

Reuters/Variety

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