Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju has raised concerns over Nigerian police's refusal to release rapper Speed Darlington, despite a Federal High Court ruling granting him bail on December 23, 2024. The rapper has been in detention since November 27, 2024, after being re-arrested in Imo State.
Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has raised alarm over the continued detention of rapper Darlington Okoye, aka Speed Darlington, despite a court order granting him bail. The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on December 23, 2024, that the rapper should be released, but the Nigerian police have refused to comply with the order.
Speed Darlington was arrested on November 27, 2024, following his re-arrest in Owerri, Imo State. This came after a petition filed against him by Nigerian singer Burna Boy. Previously, the rapper had been arrested in October 2024, but the court's recent ruling stipulated his unconditional release, provided his legal team presented the ruling to the police legal department.
Despite the legal team submitting the court order, the police have not acted on it. Speed Darlington remains in custody at the Force Investigation Department (FID). Adeyanju expressed his frustration on social media, criticizing the Nigerian police for disregarding the judiciary’s decision.
In his post, he labeled the police's actions as a direct affront to the court and the rule of law. The situation has sparked concerns regarding the respect for judicial authority in Nigeria, as the rapper continues to languish in detention, awaiting his release as per the court's directive.
