
On January 6, 2025, the Federal High Court in Nigeria ordered the immediate release of musician Speed Darlington, who had been detained for more than a month.
Initially arrested in October 2024 on allegations of defamation and cyberstalking against fellow artist Burna Boy, Darlington was granted bail only to be arrested again on November 27 during a performance in Owerri, Imo State. There are speculations online that this arrest is related to his diss track “Baby Oil.”
In the song, Darlington takes multiple jabs at Burna Boy, questioning whether he had intimate encounters with American music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

For context, about a thousand bottles of baby oil were discovered in the American rapper’s home during an FBI raid conducted in March of the previous year. The product is believed to have been used by Combs for certain lewd activities. Combs is currently facing multiple charges of sexual trafficking and assault and will soon be tried this year.
Despite a clear court order for Darlington’s release on December 26, 2024, the Nigerian police did not comply. As per Sahara Reporters, the court found that his detention violated several of his constitutional rights, specifically his rights to dignity, liberty, expression, and movement, as outlined in Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution.
The Sun reported that the police were directed to release Darlington on bail within 48 hours of receiving the order. This directive came after a series of legal maneuvers by Speed Darlington’s legal team, which argued vehemently for his release. On X, Deji Adeyanju, Speed Darlington’s lawyer, stated,
“The Nigerian Police have refused to release Speed Darlington, a.k.a. Akpi, despite the explicit order of the Federal High Court to do so. This is the highest form of disrespect to the judiciary.”
However, the police asserted that Speed Darlington violated the terms of his administrative bail. They also mentioned that the ‘Seredebe’ rapper will be arraigned on January 15.
Cubana Chief Priest Shows Support For Speed Darlington

Speed Darlington’s situation has since caught the attention of prominent figures like Cubana Chief Priest. The well-known socialite, whose real name is Pascal Okechukwu, has even vowed to secure the rapper’s release.
He was quoted in a Premium Times article, saying,
“Tomorrow we are coming for you, Akpi Nwamama. Monday is almost here. Let’s now showcase power.”
Cubana Chief Priest is also known for having multiple clashes online with rival, Burna Boy. The two have been going off on each other ever since Burna Boy called the former a “low-budget Rick Ross.” Check out our weekly trend report to find out more.

In related news, Asaba Metro reported that Speed Darlington has filed a lawsuit against Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), for N300 million naira. The lawsuit alleges unlawful detention and seeks compensation for the damages he incurred during his time in custody. There’s a hearing scheduled for the 13th of January.