- Safiu Kehinde
An Abuja Federal High Court has, on Wednesday, granted Popular Nigerian musician, Darlington Okoye (Speed Darlington), N20 million bail with one surety.
This was disclosed in a post on X by Human Rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
According to reports, the presiding judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, gave the order in a ruling on the singer’s bail application moved by his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar after he pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime.
The judge held that the address of the surety should be verified by the court registrar and the surety must either be a staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) or be a federal worker.
Ekerete also directed that the surety should deposit his letters of appointment and last promotion which must be verified by the deputy chief registrar of the court.
While Speed Darlington was directed to deposit his international passport, the surety was also ordered to submit their two recent passport photographs with the court registrar.
Meanwhile, the judge consequently ordered Speed Darlington to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
He adjourned the matter until March 18 for trial.
Recall that the Inspector-General (I-G) of police had, in the amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/556/2024, dragged Speed Darlington to court for cybercrime offences.
He was alleged to have transmitted the message; “Burna Boy, how many oil Diddy drop for your ny*sh before them give you that grammy,” “speed darlington is such a clown infamaooo…” through his instagram handle; @20takeoffs on internet in a viral video.