Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has confirmed the arrest of popular Nigerian musician Darlington Okoye, also known as Speed Darlington, following a petition filed against him by fellow artist Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, famously known as Burna Boy.
Adeyanju revealed this on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, announcing that he had made contact with Speed Darlington, who was arrested on Friday in Lagos and transferred to Abuja. The arrest stemmed from a video where Speed Darlington questioned Burna Boy about his Grammy win, making controversial comments about American rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs’ involvement.
Adeyanju, condemning Burna Boy’s actions, stated, “You can’t be singing against oppressors and still be an oppressor.” He has since taken up the case and vowed to work towards Speed Darlington’s release, stressing that freedom of expression must be protected in Nigeria.
“We just spent 30 minutes with Speed Darlington, and he narrated how he was arrested in Lagos, moved around, and eventually brought to Abuja,” Adeyanju shared, confirming Burna Boy’s petition as the cause of the arrest. He has urged the authorities to respect the rights to free speech and end the clampdown on freedom of expression in the country.