The Federal High Court has ordered the police to immediately release singer Darlington Okoye, also known as Speed Darlington or Akpi, pending the outcome of the substantive issue.
Justice M.S. Liman issued a verdict on Monday, January 6, ordering the Inspector General of Police to charge Darlington in court within 48 hours or release him unconditionally.
Darlington’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed this in a post on X on Monday, adding that the court also ordered a member of Darlington’s legal team, Abubakar Marshal, to stand as surety for him.
He wrote: “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.”
On December 23, Justice Liman ordered the singer’s release, but police allegedly ignored the ruling and continued to keep him.
Darlington filed a basic rights enforcement complaint, FHC/ABJ/1832/202, against the Inspector-General of Police as the single 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.”