Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju has condemned the continuous detention of Nigerian singer Darlington Okoye, also known as Speed Darlington, by the Nigeria Police Force.
Adeyanju, in an exclusive interview with Henzodaily, noted that some powerful forces are behind the arrest and detention of Darlington.
Henzodaily recalls that the Nigeria Police Force arrested Darlington in Owerri, Imo State and moved him to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The singer was re-arrested by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on his return to Nigeria for a show.
The counsel to the singer, Stan Alieke, had claimed that his client was re-arrested in Owerri, Imo state, over allegations of jumping bail.
Darlington was arrested in October over a petition filed against him by his colleague, Burna Boy.
In a statement released last week, Alieke said the singer was granted administrative bail in October after being illegally detained for five days in connection with the Burna Boy’s incident.
Alieke said his client was given a date to report back but was unable to do so due to a medical emergency that required him to travel abroad for treatment.
The lawyer stated that Darlington had no intention to jump bail, stressing he had arranged to return to Abuja after his performance at Owerri.
Giving the latest update on Darlington’s detention, Adeyanju further stated that the Nigeria Police Force is violating the rights of the singer.
He said, “It is unfortunate that one will be arrested over a week without having his day in court.
“This is what we all have been condemning, you know, they use security agencies to harass people that might have said negative things about them.
“Anyone can be a victim, including those violating people’s rights.”
According to Adeyanju, Darlington had no plan to jump bail, adding that the singer had an emergency in the US and came back.
He said, “If he wanted to run, he wouldn’t have come back, since he is not running anywhere, the lawful thing and the right thing to do is to release him pending the time they are ready to charge him to court.”
Speaking on the move to secure his release, he said, “We have just filed a fundamental right proceeding at the Federal High Court, which is aimed at securing his release.”
Henzodaily reached out to the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, to get an update on the singer’s detention, but the call was declined.