Speed Darlington Petitions DIG Over Prolonged Detention

Popular Nigerian musician Darlington Achakpo, better known by his stage name Speed Darlington, has petitioned DIG Dasuki Galadanchi, the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Force Intelligence Bureau in Abuja, to uphold a court order requiring his continued detention.

In a letter addressed dated January 8, 2025, the singer’s counsel, Rosemary E. Hamza from the Chambers of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, emphasized that the court order issued by Justice M.S. Liman on December 23, 2024, directed the police to charge Speed Darlington within 48 hours or release him unconditionally.

The letter copied to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Federal High Court in Abuja, is titled: ‘Re: Unlawful Detention Of Darlington Achakpo.’

The letter reads, “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.

“Although our client was served with a bail term on January 6, 2025 (a copy is herein attached to this correspondence) requesting him to produce a Grade Level 16 civil servant, Marshal Abubakar, Esq, and Mazi David Ihuoma, Esq, were at the FIB on January 7, 2025, with a surety to fulfil the bail conditions you imposed.

“However, 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 noted that Abubakar and Ihuoma will be coming to the FIB on January 9, 2024, with a surety to fulfil the bail conditions imposed.

PUNCH Online reports that Speed Darlington was arrested in November 2024 over allegations of defamation and cyberstalking of fellow artiste, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, professionally known as Burna Boy.

The singer was arrested in Lagos and transferred to Abuja before being detained by the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team in the Guzape area of Abuja.

However, he was released from police custody and re-arrested while performing at a show in Owerri, the Imo State capital, days after returning to the country.