A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the N300 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by popular singer Darlington Achakpo, widely known as Speed Darlington, against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to January 27, 2025.
Presiding judge, Justice Musa Liman, postponed the hearing following a request from the IGP’s counsel, CSP Audu Garba, who sought additional time to review a further affidavit served by Speed Darlington’s legal team during the court session.
When the case was called, the applicant’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the hearing of the substantive application. Marshal confirmed receiving the police’s counter affidavit on Friday and subsequently filing a further affidavit in response.
However, Garba, representing the IGP, objected to the hearing, stating that he had not had sufficient time to review the further affidavit filed earlier that day.
Justice Liman granted the request and adjourned the case to January 27 for the adoption of processes.
Speed Darlington, through his suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1832/2024), alleges that his arrest and detention violate his fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. He seeks four key orders from the court:
- A declaration that his arrest and detention are unlawful.
- An order for his immediate and unconditional release.
- Alternatively, an order compelling the police to produce him in court to determine the legality of his detention and possibly grant him bail.
- An order directing the police to pay him ₦300 million in damages for his alleged unlawful detention.
The suit was filed with the assistance of human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, following Speed Darlington’s arrest and detention in 2024.
The case remains under judicial review, with significant public interest surrounding the artist’s detention and his claims of rights violations.