Speed Darlington Released on Bail

Speed Darlington Freed

His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed his release, stating that Speed Darlington was in good spirits...

Controversy surrounds Speed Darlington's arrest and release. Burna Boy's petition raises questions about free speech.

Speed Darlington, whose real name is Darlington Okoye, has been released on bail after being arrested and detained for allegedly defaming and cyberstalking Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu. The controversy surrounding his arrest began when Burna Boy filed a petition against him, leading to his arrest last Friday.

Speed Darlington's journey to freedom was marked by a series of transfers across various police formations in the state before finally being detained by the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed his release, stating that Speed Darlington was in good spirits.

Interestingly, Speed Darlington's mother, Queen, had earlier raised concerns about her son's disappearance, accusing Burna Boy and his team of being behind the arrest. In an emotional plea, she begged Burna Boy to release her son, revealing her desperation by kneeling down in a video.

Facts About Speed Darlington's Release:

Arrest and Detention: Speed Darlington was arrested and detained following a petition from Burna Boy for alleged cyberstalking and defamation.

Release on Bail: He was released to his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, after meeting bail conditions stipulated by the police.

Location of Detention: Speed Darlington was detained at the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team's Department in Abuja

Lawyer Deji Adeyanju has spoken out about Speed Darlington's arrest, stating that upon reviewing the petition filed by Burna Boy, he found no grounds that justified Darlington's detention. Despite this, the police refused to release a copy of the petition to Adeyanju, only allowing him to read and familiarize himself with its contents.

Adeyanju's assessment raises questions about the motivations behind Burna Boy's petition, especially given the timing of Speed Darlington's arrest following his public criticism of Burna Boy's Grammy win. The controversy surrounding this case continues to unfold, sparking debate about the limits of free speech and the powers of law enforcement in Nigeria.

Pointers:

Petition Review: Adeyanju found no warrant for Speed Darlington's arrest in Burna Boy's petition.

Police Restrictions: Police denied Adeyanju a copy of the petition but allowed him to read it.

Context: Speed Darlington's arrest followed his public criticism of Burna Boy's Grammy win.