The lawyer representing controversial Nigerian singer Speed Darlington, Stan Alieke of Law Capitol, has attributed his client’s prolonged detention to the involvement of high-profile individuals in the case.
Naija News reports that Speed Darlington’s ongoing detention has sparked public interest since his second arrest on November 27 during a performance in Owerri, Imo State.
The rapper was detained on charges of cyberstalking Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy. However, Darlington’s lawyers, including Deji Adeyanju and Alieke, have described the detention as unjustified.
In an interview with PremiumTimes, Alieke explained that the real reason for his client’s extended detention is the influence of powerful individuals and Burna Boy’s prominent status as the complainant.
The lawyer argued that defamation is a civil matter, not a criminal one, and criticized the police for their role in Speed Darlington’s detention.
Alieke stated, “Darlington was charged to court, and a hearing has been set for January 14. We, his lawyers, cannot wait that long. He was brought before the court last Thursday, and although the judge insisted we wait our turn, we are determined to file for fundamental rights enforcement before the court goes on recess. He will not spend the festive period in detention.”
He continued, “The case has drawn attention due to the involvement of powerful figures. The prolonged detention is linked to the influence of these individuals. Speed Darlington’s arrests, both the first and second, were arbitrary, simply because of the status of the person he is dealing with or the influence of powerful people.”
Alieke also reaffirmed his stance on defamation, stating, “The police have acted beyond their authority. According to the law, once a matter is civil, the police have no jurisdiction over it. This has been established in our statutory provisions and judicial precedents.”