A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the hearing of a N300 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by detained singer Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, against the Nigeria Police Force. Justice Musa Liman fixed January 27 as the new hearing date.
The adjournment came after counsel for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), CSP Audu Garba, requested additional time to review a further affidavit served on him during the court session by Speed Darlington’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal.
Marshal had informed the court that the matter was slated for hearing of the substantive application and noted that the police had only served their counter affidavit the previous Friday. In response, his team filed a further affidavit earlier in the day.
CSP Garba, however, objected to moving forward with the application, stating that he needed time to study the affidavit to determine if it raised new legal or factual issues.
The case, marked *FHC/ABJ/CS/1832/2024,* sees Speed Darlington suing the Inspector-General of Police as the sole respondent. He claims his arrest and detention violate his fundamental rights under the 1999 Constitution and is seeking four reliefs, including:
1. An order for his immediate and unconditional release.
2. Alternatively, an order for the IGP to present him in court to determine the legality of his detention and, if applicable, grant him bail.
3. A declaration that his arrest and detention are unlawful.
4. A directive for the IGP to pay N300 million in damages for unlawful detention.
The suit was filed by human rights activist Deji Adeyanju on behalf of the detained artist, whose arrest and continued detention since 2024 remain contentious. The court will address the substantive application when the matter resumes later this month.
