Stan Alieke, the lawyer representing singer Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has revealed why the artist was re-arrested in Owerri, Imo State capital.
KanyiDaily had reported how Speed Darlington was arrested by police after his return to Nigeria following a performance in Owerri.
This re-arrest follows an earlier incident in October, when Speed Darlington was detained after Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy filed a petition against him. He was later released on administrative bail.
In a statement released by Alieke, he explained that on October 8, 2024, Speed Darlington was granted bail after what he described as “illegal detention” for five days.
According to him, this detention stemmed from his transfer from Lagos rto Abuja egarding the Burna Boy case.
Alieke said the singer was unable to comply with the bail conditions due to a medical emergency that required him to travel abroad for treatment.
He clarified that Speed Darlington had planned to return to Abuja after his Owerri performance, in coordination with his legal team and the police.
The lawyer emphasized that the singer never intended to evade his bail obligations.
The statement reads: “Following our client’s performance in Owerri, our client was picked up by the police on allegations that he jumped bail. We are informed that this action was purportedly on the orders of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Bureau.
“It is important to set the record straight, that on the 8th of October, 2024, our client was granted administrative bail after being illegally detained for five days upon being shipped from Lagos in connection with the Burna Boy’s incident.
“He was given a date to report back but was unable to do so due to a medical emergency that required him to travel abroad for treatment.
“In good faith, our client had arranged to return to Abuja after his performance at Owerri, in consultation with his lawyer and in liaison with police officers. It was never his intention to jump bail.
“We find this action by the police to be not only unnecessary but a clear attempt to embarrass and trample on the rights of our client. Such conduct is both unwarranted and a misuse of police authority.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju had alleged that Burna Boy was responsible for Speed Darlington”s recent arrest.