Wednesday, February 12, 2025
-2.1 C
Hamburg

Court Postpones Speed Darlington’s ₦300m Lawsuit Against Police to Jan. 27

Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a N300 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Speed Darlington, against the police until January 27.

The presiding judge, Justice Musa Liman moved the date
after counsel for Inspector-General of Police (IGP), CSP Audu Garba filed an application seeking a short date to enable him to study the further affidavit served on him in the open court by the claimant’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshall.

When the case was called, Marshal told the court that the case was for hearing of the substantive application for fundamental right enforcement of his client.

Garba said the police had served their counter affidavit on Friday and a further affidavit had also been filed in response. He however said he hasn’t been served the further affidavit.

When the judge asked him when the further affidavit was filed, Marshall said, “It was filed this morning my lord.”

With the court’s permission, Marshall served the police lawyer with a copy of the further affidavit.

When he sought to move the application, Garba objected to the request, saying he would need more time to study the further affidavit to know if new issues of facts and law were raised to enable him to respond appropriately.

Justice Liman then adjourned the matter until Jan. 27 for adoption.

In the fundamental right suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1832/2024, Speed Darlington sued I-G as sole respondent. He asked the court to declare that his arrest and detention violated his fundamental rights as guaranteed by 1999 Constitution, and sought four orders.

In the suit filed by Adeyanju, he sought an order directing the I-G to immediately and unconditionally release him from detention facility where he is being kept.

He also sought an order mandating and compelling the I-G to produce him before the court to enable the court to inquire into the circumstances constituting grounds of his arrest and detention and where it deems fit, admit him to bail.

Additionally, he sought “an order directing the respondent to pay the applicant the sum of N300,000,000.00 (Three Hundred Million Naira) only as general, exemplary and aggravating damages for their unlawful and continued detention since the 2024 till date.”

In the affidavit deposed by Esther Eyisi, a secretary in the law firm, she alleged that Speed Darlington was first arrested on Oct. 4, 2024, for allegedly defaming Burna Boy.

She said he was illegally detained for five days and subjected to severe torture and maltreatment without being formally charged to a court of competent jurisdiction and was later granted bail by the police after spending five days under inhumane conditions.

Eyisi said that on Nov. 27, 2024, the applicant was arrested and detained by officers of the respondent because he allegedly jumped administrative bail.

She noted the singer was detained despite notification from her client about his medical emergency and his inability to report on the scheduled date and obtaining the permission of the officers of the respondent to travel to Owerri, Imo for a performance.

The secretary said the continuous detention of Speed Darlington without arraignment contravened his constitutional rights, describing him as the “breadwinner in his family.”

However, in the police counter affidavit deposed to by SP David Atama, he stated that on Sept. 24, 2024, his office received a petition from the nominal complainant Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, through his counsel G.C. Ijioma of Rockfold Chambers.

Atama said Burna Boy alleged threat to his life, intimidation, and cause of breakdown of law and order among his followers contrary to Section 24 of the Cybercrime Prohibition (Prevention) Act, 2015 (as amended).

The officer alleged that in the course of the investigation, Speed Darlington was invited and he came and wrote a statement, admitting the commission of the offence.

But in the further affidavit, Speed Darlington said he had never admitted to committing any offence. He said the allegations in the counter affidavit were false and misleading as Burna Boy “himself had confirmed the allegation which is now subject of brute joke that several personalities have been making publicly in respect of the said Burna Boy.”

The singer said he had never jumped bail contrary to the police submission.

Hot this week

FG Transforms Nok University into Federal University of Applied Sciences

Agency Report - President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal...

Mixed Reactions Trail Third-Party Insurance Policy in Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger

Agency Report - Some residents of Kogi, Nasarawa and Minna...

El-Rufai Says Betrayers’ Conscience ‘Won’t Let Them Sleep Well’

ABUJA — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has...

Wike Directs Security Agencies to Monitor Almajiri Influx, Suspicious Movements in FCT

Agency Report - Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,...

Dangote Refinery Cuts Diesel Price to N1,020 Per Litre

LAGOS — Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has further...

Latest

FG Transforms Nok University into Federal University of Applied Sciences

Agency Report - President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal...

Mixed Reactions Trail Third-Party Insurance Policy in Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger

Agency Report - Some residents of Kogi, Nasarawa and Minna...

El-Rufai Says Betrayers’ Conscience ‘Won’t Let Them Sleep Well’

ABUJA — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has...

Dangote Refinery Cuts Diesel Price to N1,020 Per Litre

LAGOS — Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has further...

“Prove Your Innocence in Court,” INEC Tells Suspended Adamawa REC Ari

Agency Report - Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has advised...

NCS Bows To Pressure, Suspends Implementation of 4% FOB

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has suspended implementation of...

El-Rufai Dismisses Arrest Rumors, Vows to Return to Nigeria for IBB Book Launch

ABUJA — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Section

spot_imgspot_img

MORE FROM CHATNEWSTV

German ex-soldier arrested in Ukraine over accusations of rape

Agency Report - Nuremberg, Germany  - A former soldier with the German armed forces has been arrested in Ukraine on suspicion of three counts of rape...

Why Justice Nyako can’t decide Nnamdi Kanu’s case – Lawyer Ejimakor

The lead Counsel of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor on Monday explained why Justice Binta Nyako of...

Police release Tiktoker, SeaKing

The Nigeria Police has released Tiktoker, Olumide Ogunsanwo aka SeaKing on administrative bail. SeaKing, a content creator was arrested for insulting the general Overseer of...

Kanu Remanded in DSS Custody as Court Halts Terrorism Trial Indefinitely

The self acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has been returned to the custody of the Department of...

Nnamdi Kanu to Stand Trial in Court on February 10 For Terrorism

Federal high court in Abuja has ordered Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to appear for the continuation of...

SERAP sues Tinubu over ‘failure to prosecute contractors in N167bn project fraud in MDAs’

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over "the failure to direct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating...

Kidnapped Hon. Justice Azuka’s Decomposing Body Found Along Second Niger Bridge

Justice Azuka, a member of the Anambra Assembly representing the Onitsha North 1 constituency, was found dead after being kidnapped on Christmas Eve in...

Court Dethrones Ahmed-Anaje as Ohinoyi of Ebiraland

Agency Report - A State High Court in Lokoja on Monday sacked the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Tijani Ahmed-Anaje. Justice Umar Salisu, gave the order in a...

PSC Has No Constitutional Power Over IGP Appointment or Removal — Ikechukwu

Agency Report - The Police Service Commission, PSC, stated it has no constitutional powers over the appointment or removal of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP. Ikechukwu...