The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Nigerian singer Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington (Akpi). The development came after his arraignment by the police on Wednesday.
Darlington’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the court’s decision, stating that the bail application was successfully moved and granted. Adeyanju announced this on his X account, writing, “Police finally arraign Speed Darlington in court. Bail application moved and granted. We are trying to perfect same.”
This follows weeks of controversy surrounding the singer’s detention. Despite a Federal High Court order issued in December 2024, the police had refused to release Darlington, who had been in custody since November 2024.
The court had previously ruled that Darlington’s arrest and prolonged detention violated his fundamental rights to dignity, liberty, expression, and movement as enshrined in Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution.
Last week, Chronicles Reporters reported that Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) Abuja, DIG Dasuki Galadanchi, was reminded to comply with the court order regarding Darlington’s detention.
A letter from Rosemary E. Hamza, Esq., of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, dated January 8, 2025, emphasized Justice M.S. Liman’s December 23, 2024, directive. The court had ordered the police to either charge Darlington within 48 hours or release him unconditionally. However, weeks passed without compliance.
Even after a renewed order on January 6, 2025, directing Darlington’s release to his lead counsel, Marshal Abubakar, the police imposed additional bail conditions, including securing a Grade Level 16 civil servant as surety. Efforts to meet these conditions on January 7, 2025, failed, as DIG Galadanchi could not be reached.
Darlington was arrested last November during a performance in Owerri, Imo State. Since then, he had been denied bail and not formally charged, raising public concerns about his detention. The arrest stemmed from allegations of defamation and cyberstalking involving fellow artist Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy.
In response to his detention, Darlington filed a ₦300 million fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, accusing the police of unlawful detention.
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Source: Chronicles Reporters