Nigerian musician, Darlington Achakpo, widely known as Speed Darlington, has petitioned the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), DIG Dasuki Galadanchi, over what he described as his unlawful detention.
In a letter dated January 8, 2025, and signed by his counsel, Rosemary E. Hamza, from the law firm of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, Speed Darlington urged the police to comply with a Federal High Court order issued by Justice M.S. Liman on December 23, 2024. The court had directed the police to either charge him to court within 48 hours or release him unconditionally.
The letter, titled “Re: Unlawful Detention of Darlington Achakpo” and copied to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, expressed frustration over the police’s continued disregard for the court’s ruling.
Part of the letter read, “As you are no doubt aware, the Federal High Court, per Hon. Justice M.S. Liman, on the 23rd day of December 2024, directed the police authorities to charge our client to court within 48 hours or release him unconditionally.
“On January 6, 2025, the court reiterated the order and urged the police authorities to release him to the lead counsel, our own, Marshal Abubakar, who shall produce him in court for trial.”
The letter further revealed that bail terms were communicated to the singer on January 6, 2025, requiring him to produce a Grade Level 16 civil servant as a surety. On January 7, 2025, Abubakar and another legal representative, Mazi David Ihuoma, accompanied a surety to the FIB to meet the conditions. However, according to the petition, multiple calls and messages to DIG Galadanchi from the singer’s legal team were ignored.
The letter added, “Events and happenings on that day left much to be desired as several calls and messages sent to you by Abubakar Marshal, Esq and Deji Adeyanju, Esq were left unanswered and without response.”
The petition confirmed that Abubakar and Ihuoma would visit the FIB again on January 9, 2025, with a surety to fulfil the bail conditions.
LEADERSHIP reports that Speed Darlington’s ordeal stemmed from his arrest in November 2024 over allegations of defamation and cyberstalking of fellow artist, Damini Ogulu, also known as Burna Boy. After his arrest in Lagos, the singer was transferred to Abuja and detained by the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team in its Guzape District office in Abuja.
Although released initially, he was re-arrested shortly after, during a performance in Owerri, the Imo State capital, upon his return to Nigeria.