Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigeria Police personnel within the Federal Capital Territory are allegedly pressuring detained musician Darlington Okoye, popularly often called Velocity Darlington or “Akpi,” to publicly apologise to fellow artist Damini Ogulu, famously often called Burna Boy.
Sources revealed that the police described Burna Boy as a “famous person” and demand that an apology is the perfect plan of action for Velocity Darlington.
A police supply advised SaharaReporters on Thursday, “The police are mounting strain on Darlington to make a video and publicly apologise to Burna Boy. They preserve telling him Burna Boy is a famous person and that he (Darlington) can’t defeat Burna Boy.”
This improvement follows the controversial detention and alleged mistreatment of Velocity Darlington, who was initially arrested in Owerri, Imo State, earlier this week. On Wednesday, stories emerged that the musician was moved from Owerri to Abuja’s Power Intelligence Division (FID), a transfer interpreted as an effort to accentuate his ordeal. The Deputy Inspector-Common (DIG) in control of FID, Dasuki Galadanchi, is claimed to have personally taken over the case recordsdata.
Arrest and Allegations
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, representing Velocity Darlington, confirmed that Burna Boy is behind the petition that led to the arrest. In accordance with Adeyanju, Velocity Darlington is being accused of cyberstalking Burna Boy, with the petition reportedly detailing unspecified allegations. Regardless of requests for a duplicate of the petition, the police declined to launch it, permitting solely a short studying by Adeyanju.
Adeyanju expressed issues in regards to the arrest and detention, questioning the legitimacy of the case. “There may be nothing within the petition to warrant Darlington’s arrest,” he acknowledged. He criticised Burna Boy, accusing the internationally acclaimed Afrobeat star of hypocrisy. “Burna Boy, who sings in opposition to oppression, is now oppressing Akpi,” Adeyanju wrote on social media.
Circumstances of the Arrest
Velocity Darlington’s arrest reportedly occurred in Owerri throughout a present upon his return to Nigeria. He was detained at numerous police formations in Lagos earlier than being transferred to the Intelligence Response Workforce (IRT) facility in Abuja, described as a infamous detention centre.
Adeyanju visited Darlington in detention and described him as being in “good spirits,” including that efforts are underway to safe his launch on bail. Nevertheless, the police proceed to withhold key paperwork, elevating questions on procedural transparency.
Mounting Public Concern
The incident has sparked widespread public discourse on social media, with many questioning the prioritisation of such instances by regulation enforcement. Critics have accused the police of misusing their assets to settle private disputes whereas ignoring urgent problems with nationwide safety.
Darlington’s case has additionally reignited debates about freedom of speech and the misuse of regulation enforcement to silence perceived dissent. Advocacy teams have referred to as for a radical evaluation of the case and for the Nigerian police to uphold the rules of justice.
The Bigger Implications
This case sheds mild on a rising pattern the place high-profile people leverage the felony justice system to settle private grievances. Velocity Darlington’s scenario has drawn consideration not solely due to the involvement of a celebrated artist like Burna Boy but additionally because of the obvious energy imbalance at play.
Because the case unfolds, it raises crucial questions in regards to the position of the Nigerian police and their dedication to impartiality. Advocacy for justice in Darlington’s case continues, with observers eager to see whether or not the musician will yield to the mounting strain or problem the system in courtroom.
For now, the destiny of Velocity Darlington stays unsure because the controversy continues to realize traction each domestically and internationally.
