Nigerian singer and social media personality, Speed Darlington, remains in police custody one week after his re-arrest, prompting his legal counsel, Stan Alieke, to call out law enforcement for what he terms a violation of his client’s rights.
Speed Darlington, known for his controversial statements and online persona, was taken into custody in Owerri, Imo State, shortly after performing at an event. His re-arrest follows an earlier incident in October, where he was detained in Abuja over a cyberbullying complaint allegedly filed by Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy.
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Following his initial arrest, Speed Darlington was granted bail with conditions that required him to report back to the authorities. According to his lawyer, the singer’s failure to meet this requirement led to his subsequent re-arrest in Owerri.
In a statement shared a week after Speed Darlington’s re-arrest, Stan Alieke criticized the police for holding his client beyond the legally permissible detention period without granting him bail.
“My client has a right to bail, and this right must be respected,” Alieke asserted. “Speed Darlington has now spent over a week in custody without any formal charges being filed against him. This prolonged detention is not only a breach of his fundamental human rights but also a worrying sign of abuse of power by law enforcement.”
“The police must uphold the principles of justice and fairness,” Alieke said. “My client has the right to defend himself, but this cannot happen if he is being unlawfully detained. We are demanding his immediate release on bail, as he is entitled to under Nigerian law.”
