Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju has revealed that his attempts to secure the release of singer Darlington Okoye, better known as Speed Darlington, from police custody were unsuccessful.
On Wednesday morning, November 28, WITHIN NIGERIA reported that the singer was rearrested on Tuesday night during a performance in Owerri, Imo State, on allegations of cyberstalking his fellow artist, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy.
Deji Adeyanju confirmed the arrest via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) page, stating: “Our client Speed Darlington, a.k.a AKPI, has been arrested by the Nigerian police in Owerri at his show upon return to Nigeria.”
In a follow-up tweet, Adeyanju suggested Burna Boy was behind the rearrest, criticizing the Grammy-winning artist for his actions. He wrote: “Burna Boy is behind the harassment of Speed Darlington by the police. This is someone who sings against oppression and calls himself junior Fela, yet oppresses Akpi.”
Later on Wednesday evening, Adeyanju provided an update on his social media platforms, revealing that the police had brought Speed Darlington to Abuja from Owerri but refused to grant him bail. He posted: “The Nigerian police brought our client Speed Darlington to Abuja from Owerri this evening and I just met him. They have refused to release him on bail over defamation of Burna Boy. Burna Boy, who sings about oppression in Ojuelegba, is now oppressing Akpi with the police.”