Court makes decision on Speed Darlington’s N300m suit against IGP

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A N300 million fundamental rights enforcement lawsuit against the police, filed by jailed singer Darlington Achakpo, also known as Speed Darlington, was postponed till January 27 by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

Justice Musa Liman, the presiding judge, set the date following an application from CSP Audu Garba, the Inspector-General of Police’s attorney, who requested a little window of time to review the additional document that Achakpo’s attorney, Abubakar Marshal, had served on him in public.

When the case was called, Marshal informed the judge that it was to hear his client’s substantive claim for the enforcement of fundamental rights.

He claims that a counter-affidavit was served on them by the police on Friday and that an additional affidavit was filed in response.

Garba, the IGP counsel, stated that although having submitted their counter-affidavit, he had not yet received the additional affidavit.

Marshall was questioned by the judge when the additional affidavit was submitted.

“My lord, it was filed this morning,” he stated.

Marshall gave Garba a copy of the additional affidavit with the court’s permission.
The police attorney objected to Marshall’s attempt to transfer the application.

He stated that in order to reply effectively, he would require further time to review the remaining affidavit and see whether any new factual or legal issues were brought up.
The case was postponed until January 27th for adoption by Justice Liman.

According to reporters, Speed Darlington sued I-G as the only respondent in the fundamental rights complaint with the filing number FHC/ABJ/CS/1832/2024.

The artist requested four orders from the court, arguing that his arrest and incarceration were a violation of his fundamental rights as outlined in the 1999 Constitution.

Human rights advocate Deji Adeyanju filed the lawsuit, requesting that the I-G quickly and unconditionally release him from the detention facility where he is being held.

As an alternative, he requested an order for the I-G to bring him before the court so that it may investigate the reasons behind his arrest and imprisonment and, if appropriate, grant him bail.

In addition, he requested an order compelling the respondent to pay the applicant 300 million naira in general, exemplary, and aggravating damages for their wrongful and ongoing incarceration, which began in 2024 and continues to this day.

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