Nigerian singer and entertainer Speed Darlington, also known as Darlington Achakpo, has petitioned the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Dasuki Galadanchi, to enforce a court order concerning his detention.
Speed Darlington has been in custody over allegations of defamation and cyberstalking fellow musician Burna Boy (real name Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu). On December 23, 2024, Justice M.S. Liman of the Federal High Court ordered the police to either charge him within 48 hours or release him unconditionally. Despite this directive, the singer remains detained.
In a letter dated January 8, 2025, Speed Darlington’s lawyer, Rosemary E. Hamza from Deji Adeyanju & Partners, criticized the police for not complying with the court’s orders. She noted that the court had reiterated the directive on January 6, 2025, and instructed the police to release Speed Darlington to his legal team, led by Marshal Abubakar.
Hamza also revealed that bail terms were served on January 6, requiring the singer to present a Grade Level 16 civil servant as a surety. On January 7, Marshal Abubakar and Mazi David Ihuoma, along with a surety, went to the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) to meet the conditions. However, their efforts were reportedly ignored, with calls and messages left unanswered.
Speed Darlington’s troubles began in November 2024 when he was arrested in Lagos after making controversial statements about Burna Boy’s Grammy win, linking it to detained US music executive Diddy. He was transferred to Abuja and held by the Intelligence Response Team in Guzape.
Following his initial release, he traveled to the United States, where he continued to criticize Burna Boy. Upon returning to Nigeria, he was re-arrested in Owerri, Imo State, during a performance.
Speed Darlington’s legal team has announced plans to revisit the FIB on January 9, 2025, to fulfill the bail conditions and secure his release. They remain committed to ensuring that the court’s directives are respected.
The singer’s continued detention has raised concerns about the enforcement of judicial orders and the rights of citizens.
