Court Sets ₦20M Bail for Speed Darlington in Cybercrime Case
Nigerian singer Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has been granted bail of ₦20 million by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Ekerete Akpan made the ruling following the singer’s plea of not guilty to a two-count charge related to alleged cybercrime.
Justice Akpan stipulated several conditions for granting bail. The defendant must provide one surety, who must be a Level 10 civil servant residing in Abuja. Additionally, the surety is required to depose to an affidavit of means, be either an employee of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) or a federal worker, and submit letters of appointment and their most recent promotion. The court’s deputy chief registrar will verify these documents.
Furthermore, the judge ordered Speed Darlington to surrender his international passport and submit two recent passport photographs, along with the same from his surety, to the court registrar. The singer will remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until all bail conditions are met.
The case has been adjourned to March 18, 2025, for trial.
The Inspector-General of Police charged Speed Darlington with violating the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015. The charges stem from controversial posts made by the singer on his Instagram account, @20takeoffs, and other associated pages.
In one instance, he allegedly transmitted a message mocking Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy, which was interpreted as an attempt to incite hatred, injury, or annoyance. The post read, “Burna Boy, how many oil Diddy drop for your nysh before them give you that Grammy?” and quickly went viral.
In a second allegation, Speed Darlington is accused of posting another controversial message directed at Burna Boy, where he claimed, “Odugwu is my language; I am Odugwu. If you are a G, come to my side…” This post was said to have been shared widely on social media, including on platforms like Instablog9ja, allegedly causing intimidation and harassment to Burna Boy.
The prosecution asserts that these actions were intended to bully and intimidate Burna Boy, potentially causing him distress and reputational harm.
Prosecution lawyer Garba Audu presented the amended two-count charge, praying the court to allow its substitution for an earlier charge filed in October 2024. After the amended charges were read, Speed Darlington pleaded not guilty.
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Audu requested a trial date to present witnesses against the defendant. Meanwhile, Speed Darlington’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, sought his client’s release on bail, arguing for lenient terms. Despite the prosecution’s opposition, Justice Akpan ruled in favour of bail under strict conditions.
The case has drawn significant attention, with many observing how the legal proceedings will unfold. It also highlights the broader implications of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, particularly regarding freedom of expression and accountability on digital platforms.
As Speed Darlington prepares for trial, the public remains divided, with some questioning the severity of the charges and others calling for accountability in online conduct.
Content Credit| Oyedepo Oluwafifedoyinsola Precious
Picture Credit | https://www.gistreel.com/
