Speed Darlington fights continued detention, petitions DIG
Nigerian musician Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has demanded compliance with a court order granting his release in a petition filed before the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Bureau in Abuja, DIG Dasuki Galadanchi.
Recall that Speed Darlington has been in police detention for close to two months following his arrest by men of the Imo State Police Command in Owerri upon his arrival from the United States in November 2025.
Speed Darlington, who was reportedly arrested by the police for jumping bail in a case involving Burna Boy, has been in detention despite a court injunction authorising the police to release him on bail unconditionally.
In the January 8, 2025, petition submitted to the DIG, Speed Darlington’s attorney, Rosemary E. Hamza of the Chambers of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, noted that the December 23, 2024, court order from Justice M.S. Liman instructed the police to either charge the musician within 48 hours or release him unconditionally.
The lawyers for Speed Darlington filed the petition titled “Re: Unlawful Detention Of Darlington Achakpo,” which was copied to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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
“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.
“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.”
