Brigadier General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, a nephew of the Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, on Sunday in Lagos celebrated his retirement from the Nigerian Army and his wife’s 50th birthday.
Enitan is the son of the late activist Beko Ransome-Kuti, Fela’s younger brother.
The event was held at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in Oshodi, Lagos.
Friends, relatives and well-wishers of the Kuti family turned out for the event. Among them were rights lawyer Femi Falana and Senator Babafemi Ojudu.
Ojudu, also a journalist, shared photos of the event on Instagram.
Members of the Kuti family, including Fela’s daughter Yeni, Beko’s daughters Morenike and Lande Ransome-Kuti, were present.
Ojudu captioned one of his posts, “Enitan’s dad Beko Ransome-Kuti was my mentor , friend and collaborator during those trying days of military rule in Nigeria. He was a remarkable man and patriot to the core. Pint sized but a dynamite. Like his mother Funmilayo Ransome -Kuti and his brother Fela , he was courage personified. I hope to find time in the nearest future to do a book on the selfless doctor and pro democracy activist.”
On October 15, 2015, a Special Court Martial convicted, dismissed and jailed Enitan for failure to perform military duties.
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Coincidentally, Enitan was dismissed from the army on Fela’s posthumous birthday.
He was convicted over the loss of Baga in Borno State to Boko Haram insurgents. Enitan, who was in charge of a task force, withdrew his troops over the extremists’ superior firepower.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment for loss of equipment to the extremist sect and dismissed from service.
Mr Falana, assisted by a retired army major, Femi Oyebanji, represented Enitan during the trial.
However, in March 2016, the Nigerian Army Council quashed his conviction and ordered his release from custody.
