Controversial Nigerian musician Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has regained his freedom after spending nearly two months in Kuje prison. His release on bail was confirmed on Tuesday evening by his legal team.
The singer was granted bail last Wednesday by a Federal High Court in Abuja, with bail conditions set at twenty million naira (₦20,000,000). His lawyer, Stan Alieke, shared the news on Instagram, posting photos of Darlington and vowing to pursue legal redress against the Nigerian police for what he described as “illegal incarceration.”
In his statement, Alieke wrote:
“Delighted to announce that our client, Mr. Darlington Achakpo aka Speed Darlington (Akpi), has regained his freedom after two months of illegal incarceration. For the record, as his team of lawyers, we will be exploring every angle of the law to ensure that he gets justice for his fundamental human rights, which were deprived of him by the Nigerian Police Force, and for the unfair and unjust treatment he was subjected to.”
Darlington was re-arrested on November 27, 2024, during a performance in Owerri, Imo State, over accusations of cyberstalking Grammy award-winning musician Burna Boy. This followed an earlier arrest in October 2024, after Burna Boy filed a petition against him.
The petition stemmed from Darlington’s suggestive comments linking Burna Boy to embattled hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Darlington has denied the allegations, while his legal team continues to argue that his detainment violated his fundamental rights.
Speed Darlington’s trial on cybercrime charges is scheduled to resume on March 18. Meanwhile, he has expressed gratitude to his supporters and legal team, promising to clear his name in court.
This case continues to draw significant public attention, reflecting the ongoing debates around freedom of expression and the limits of the law in Nigeria.
