Darlington was apprehended on November 27 while performing at an event in Owerri, Imo state, facing allegations of cyberstalking the Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy. His legal representatives, Adeyanju and Stan Alieke, have characterized his ongoing detention as “unjustifiable.”
On December 23, Alieke announced via Instagram that the court had granted bail to Darlington. Adeyanju also shared on X that the court mandated Darlington’s arraignment within 48 hours or his release on bail. However, Alieke later disclosed that Darlington was never arraigned, while Adeyanju accused the police of failing to comply with the court's order for his release.
According to NAN, Judge Musa Liman set the hearing date after Abubakar Marshal, representing the singer, requested an adjournment to allow Garba Audu, the IGP’s attorney, time to review and respond to the documents presented in court.
When the court reconvened on Monday, Marshal informed the judge that the session was intended for the hearing of the originating motion concerning the enforcement of Darlington’s fundamental rights. Although Audu claimed he had not yet received the documents, the court confirmed through its records that the police had indeed been served.
Darlington has named Egbetokun as the sole respondent in his lawsuit, seeking a declaration that his arrest and detention infringed upon his fundamental rights as outlined in the 1999 constitution. In the suit filed by Adeyanju, he requested an order for the IGP to release Darlington immediately and unconditionally from detention. Additionally, he sought an order requiring Egbetokun to present Darlington in court to investigate the reasons for his arrest and detention, and to consider granting him bail if appropriate.
The suit also sought “an order directing the respondent to pay the applicant the sum of N300,000,000.00 only as general, exemplary and aggravating damages for their unlawful and continued detention since the 2024 till date”.