Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, fixed January 13 for hearing of a N300 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the detained Singer, Darlington Achakpo, aka Speed Darlington.
Achakpo filed the lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over an alleged unlawful detention.
The judge fixed the date after counsel for the singer, Abubakar Marshal, sought an adjournment to enable the IGP’s lawyer, Garba Audu, to study the processes served on him in the open court.
Justice Liman had on December 23, 2024, ordered the IGP to charge the plaintiff to court or release him on bail unconditionally within 48 hours.
He made the order in a ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by a lawyer who appeared for the singer, David Ihuoma, and adjourned the matter till January 6 for the hearing of the substantive case.
Achakpo, 39, was arrested by the police for alleged defamation and cyberstalking of the award-winning artiste, Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy.
But he was released on bail on October 8, 2024.
A human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju alleged that Achakpo was arrested in Lagos State following a petition by Burna Boy and was moved to Abuja where he had been in detention.
At the resumed hearing in the matter on Monday, Marshal told the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing of the originating motion on notice for the enforcement of Achakpo’s fundamental rights.
Although Audu said he was yet to be served with the process, the court confirmed through the proof of service in the court record that the police had been fully served.
The judge, thereafter, directed Marshal to avail Audu with a copy of the application in the open court.
Justice Liman then asked Marshal if the singer had been released but the lawyer responded in the negative.
The artiste in the suit asked the court to declare that his arrest and detention violated his fundamental rights as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.
He also sought an order directing the IGP to release him from detention, among other reliefs.
