Nigerian rapper Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has filed a ₦300 million lawsuit against Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, alleging unlawful detention.
The legal action, initiated at the Federal High Court in Abuja, centers on claims that Speed Darlington was detained without due process following allegations of defamation and cyberstalking related to comments about fellow artist Burna Boy.
According to court documents, Speed Darlington was first arrested on October 4, 2024, and detained for five days without formal charges. He was later released on bail but was re-arrested on November 27, 2024, over allegations of bail jumping, despite notifying authorities of a medical emergency and obtaining permission to travel for a performance.
The rapper’s legal team argues that his continued detention violates his constitutional rights and is seeking his immediate release or appearance in court, along with ₦300 million in damages for the alleged unlawful detention.
The Federal High Court has scheduled a hearing for January 13, 2025, to address the enforcement of Speed Darlington’s fundamental rights. Justice Musa Liman has advised the police to consider releasing the artist on bail pending his arraignment, noting that there would be no detriment to the police in granting bail.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals accused of cyber-related offenses in Nigeria and raises questions about the balance between law enforcement practices and the protection of constitutional rights.
