The Federal High Court has directed the police to immediately release singer Darlington Okoye, also known as Speed Darlington or Akpi, from detention, pending the hearing of the substantive matter.
Justice M.S. Liman, in a ruling on Monday, ordered the Inspector General of Police to charge Darlington to court within 48 hours or release him unconditionally.
This was disclosed by Darlington’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, on Monday in a post on X, adding that the court also instructed a member of Darlington’s legal team, Abubakar Marshal, to stand as surety for him.
Adeyanju stated, “The Federal High Court has directed the Nigerian Police to comply with the order to release Speed Darlington immediately pending the hearing of the substantive matter. The court further directs Abubakar Marshal, Esq., to stand as surety to Akpi.”
The singer has been in custody since November 27 in Owerri, Imo State, with his legal team pointing fingers at Burna Boy for allegedly orchestrating the arrest.
This came after Darlington made controversial statements about Burna Boy’s connection to Sean “Diddy” Combs, who executive produced Burna’s Grammy-winning album “Twice As Tall.”
Justice Liman, on December 23, ordered the release of the singer, but the police defied the order and continued to detain him.
In a fundamental rights enforcement suit marked FHC/ABJ/1832/202, Darlington sued the Inspector-General of Police as the sole defendant.
Adeyanju, in an X post, expressed frustration regarding the unwillingness of the police to obey the court order, stating, “The Nigerian Police have refused to release Speed Darlington, a.k.a. Akpi, despite the explicit order of the Federal High Court to do so. This is the highest form of disrespect to the judiciary,” he said.
In his ruling on Monday, Justice Liman held that Darlington’s continued detention violated his fundamental rights to dignity, liberty, and freedom of expression under Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution.
The court reiterated, “The applicant is to be charged to court within 48 hours or released unconditionally before the hearing of the substantive application.”
