Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has confirmed that Nigerian music star, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, is behind the Tuesday’s police harassment and arrest of his client and musician, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington “Akpi” in Owerri, Imo State.
Adeyanju, who made the confirmation in a post on his social media handle, berated Burna Boy for having been producing songs against oppression but suddenly turning into an oppressor of Speed Darlington.
The lawyer wrote, “Burna Boy behind harassment of Speed Darlington by the police. This is someone who has been singing against oppression and forming junior Fela now oppressing Akpi.”
It has earlier been reported that Adeyanju had confirmed Speed Darlington’s arrest in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.
Adeyanju wrote, “Our client Speed Darlington a.k.a AKPI has been arrested by the Nigerian police in Owerri at his show upon return to Nigeria.”
He added that Darlington’s arrest occurred during his return to Nigeria for a show.
However, the reasons for the Darlington arrest remained unclear.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters recently reported that the Nigerian police detained Darlington over alleged cyberstalking of Burna Boy.
It was reported that Speed Darlington was arrested and detained at the notorious centre of the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team in the Guzape area of Abuja.
The musician was then visited by Adeyanju who also told SaharaReporters that he had seen a petition written against Darlington by afrobeat musician, Burna Boy.
Darlington had been arrested in Lagos and tossed around many police formations in Lagos before he was taken to detention in Abuja by the IRT team who accused him of cyberstalking Burna Boy.
Adeyanju had noted that there was nothing to the petition to warrant Darlington’s arrest.
“I have met Speed Darlington” and he’s in good spirits, we are working to get him released on bail as soon as possible,” Adeyanju had added.
A police ACP investigating the case told Adeyanju that the police could not release a copy of the petition to him but he let the lawyer read and digest the content.