Sodiq Rabiu
Police operatives have arrested Nigerian musician Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, his counsel announced Wednesday.
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju stated that his client was arrested while performing at a show in Owerri, the capital of the southeastern state of Imo, days after returning to the country earlier in the week.
“Our client, Speed Darlington, a.k.a AKPI, has been arrested by the Nigeria Police in Owerri at his show upon return to Nigeria,” Adeyanju wrote on X.
The reason for the singer’s arrest remains unclear at the time of filing this report, but according to Adeyanju, Okoye’s fellow singer Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy is behind what the attorney described as “harassment” of Speed Darlington.
“Burna Boy behind harassment of Speed Darlington by the police. This is someone who has being singing against oppression and forming junior Fela now oppressing Akpi,” Adeyanju wrote in another post.
Police could not be reached for comments.
Last month, police arrested Darlington over alleged cyberstalking of a fellow musician Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy.
The singer was arrested in Lagos and transferred to Abuja before being detained by the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team in the Guzape area of the country’s capital.
The musician, who was accused of cyberstalking Burna Boy, was released on bail days after his arrest.