Counsel to singer Darlington Okoye aka Speed Darlington, Stan Alieke, says the singer was re-arrested in Owerri, Imo state last night over allegations that he jumped his bail. Recall that the singer was arrested in October over a petition filed against him by Burna Boy.
In a statement released this afternoon, Alieke said on the 8th of October, 2024, the singer was granted administrative bail after being ‘’illegally detained” for five days upon being shipped from Lagos in connection with the Burna Boy’s incident. Alieke said his client 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.
He said the singer had arranged to return to Abuja after his performance at Owerri, in consultation with his lawyer and in liaison with police officers. Alieke said it was never the singer’s intention to jump bail.
His 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.’