The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed until 27 the ₦300 million suit to enforce the fundamental rights of singer Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun January for hearing.
The adjournment followed a request by CSP Audu Garba, counsel to the IGP, for additional time to review a further affidavit by Speed Darlington’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, in court.

During Monday’s proceedings, Marshal informed the court that the hearing was scheduled to hear his client’s substantive request for enforcement of his client’s fundamental rights. He noted that the police filed a counter affidavit on Friday, prompting the filing of a fresh affidavit in response.

Garba acknowledged the filing of the counter-affidavit, but stated that he had not yet received the further affidavit. When Judge Musa Liman inquired about the time of the filing, Marshal confirmed: “It was filed this morning, my lord.” With the court’s permission, Marshal Garba presented a copy of the document to the court.

However, when Marshal attempted to proceed with the application, Garba objected and requested additional time to review the new affidavit for any potential new legal or factual issues requiring a response. Judge Liman then adjourned the case to January 27 for the approval of arguments.

Speed Darlington’s ₦300 million lawsuit against the IGP challenges his alleged unlawful detention. The case stemmed from a December 23, 2024 court order directing police to charge him or release him within 48 hours.

Earlier, the Federal High Court directed the Nigerian Police to immediately release Darlington pending the hearing of the substantive case. The court also directed that Abubakar Marshal, Esq., act as surety for Darlington, alias Akpi.

Darlington, 39, was arrested in Lagos on charges of defamation and cyberstalking in relation to his comments on Burna boy. He was later granted bail on October 8, 2024.

During the resumed hearing, Marshal reiterated that the purpose of the session was to consider the motion to enforce Darlington’s rights. Although Garba initially claimed that he had not been served with the necessary documents, the court upheld the service.

Marshal also requested the court to direct the police to release his client on bail. However, Garba opposed this request, citing a pending criminal charge and claiming that Darlington had his bail suspended. He further stated that police compliance with the court’s previous order was affected by the timing during the Christmas holidays.

Darlington’s lawsuit seeks damages for alleged unlawful detention and asks for an order for immediate release or presentation in court. His legal team also claims that he was tortured and inhumanely treated during his detention.

The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Chief Emeka Rollas, has been arrested and detained by the police in Umuahia, Abia State.

Rollas was arrested over his alleged role in the imposition of an unelected chairman on the Abia State chapter of the guild.

This development follows the election of David Onyebuchi Amalaha as the Chairman of the AGN Abia State chapter on May 20, 2023, in Umuahia, the state capital.

Since the election, the guild has been engrossed in a series of legal fireworks initiated by Amalaha, who has sought to prevent the imposition of interim leadership by the AGN’s national body.

Some guild members, including Chika Okezie, Egwuatu Daniel, and Nathaniel Nwoko, spoke to journalists about the incident.

They accused Chief Rollas of sowing discord among members in Abia State by appointing over five interim chairmen since 2023, bypassing the will of the guild’s members.

The controversy escalated on Thursday when Chief Rollas convened a meeting in Umuahia without consulting key stakeholders or the elected chairman, Amalaha.

This action sparked protests from some members, leading to a disruption of the meeting. Police were called to the scene to restore order.

According to sources, a petition had already been filed against Chief Rollas at the zone 9 headquarters.

He was subsequently detained alongside Emmanuel Ehumadu, popularly known as Labista.

Some aggrieved members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, stormed the venue of a meeting convened by the National President of AGN, Emeka Rollas, and disrupted it on Thursday.

It took the intervention of the Zone 9 Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Umuahia, to stop the event from turning violent.

The aggrieved members, who were protesting against the National President, said they were at the meeting to protest what they described as an illegal gathering.

They demanded that David Onyebuchi Amalaha, who was elected as chairman of the Abia State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria on May 20, 2023, in Umuahia, be recognised by the National President, Emeka Rollas.

According to them, AGN has witnessed several litigation instituted in the state by David Onyebuchi Amalaha in an effort to stop the alleged imposition of leadership by the national body.

Some of the concerned AGN members, including Chika Okezie, Egwuatu Daniel, and Nathaniel Nwoko, who spoke about the disrupted meeting, said the National President was causing crises and division among AGN members by imposing five interim state chairmen since 2023, among other allegations.

Confirming the development to DAILY POST on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer of Zone 9 Command Umuahia, SP Iheanetu Bruno Chukwudera, said it was the intervention of the Zone 9 Command that stopped what could have been a violent situation.

He disclosed that the AGN National President, Emeka Rollas, and the leaders of the aggrieved party were not arrested by the police but were only invited by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 9, to write statements.

“There was actually chaos caused by some aggrieved members. Nobody was arrested by the Police. They have a factional leadership problem. The key actors in the chaos were invited by the AIG and made to write statements based on what happened during the meeting,” he said.