- Speed Darlington’s lawyer, Stan Alieke, has provided an update on his client’s case, addressing claims about his handling of the matter.
- He lamented that Speed Darlington’s arraignment didn’t hold last week due to judges’ conferences and next week, festive court recess would commence.
- Alieke insisted that Speed Darlington is entitled to bail as provided in the Nigerian Constitution.
Stan Alieke, Speed Darlington’s lawyer has provided an update on his case.
In a post on Instagram, he addressed claims regarding his style of handling his client’s case. In a detailed statement, Alieke emphasized his commitment to protecting his clients’ interests, stressing the importance of proactive legal counsel to prevent disputes rather than relying on litigation.
Alieke averred that his legal team closely monitors and advises clients on potentially risky social media content, including Speed Darlington, commonly known as Akpi.
The lawyer clarified that the courts’ inefficiencies have delayed Speed Darlington’s arraignment, citing judges’ conferences and the upcoming festive court recess.
He added that the case has now been formally charged to the Federal High Court, Abuja (Court 13). Alieke emphasized that it is sub judice, meaning only the court can determine its outcome.
He also underscored that under Nigerian law, defamation is no longer a criminal offence and must be addressed through civil actions, making law enforcement’s involvement questionable.
Alieke argued that regardless of the case’s merits, Speed Darlington is entitled to bail as statutorily provided in Section 35(4) of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The statement read:
“SPEED DARLINGTON’S ILLEGAL INCARCERATION – THE UPDATE.
Over the past days, my colleagues and I have faced unfounded accusations of failing in our professional responsibilities by not properly advising our client; Akpi (Speed Darlington). Such claims are baseless. As a lawyer, I consistently prioritize the interests of my clients; from your favorite musicians to the popular content creators, the big bloggers and all those who retain my services as their lawyer or legal adviser. My team and I actively monitor and review their social media content, promptly advising them to take down posts with legal risks. This same diligence is applied to Akpi (Speed Darlington).
I firmly believe in crisis prevention over crisis management. A good lawyer does not wait for an opportunity to litigate, instead, proactive measures must be taken to prevent disputes. knowing the inefficiencies of the judicial system, we advise our clients to avoid trouble. For instance, Akpi was not arraigned last week because the judges were at a conference and by next week, the courts will shut down for the festive season until late January. This is why litigation is treated as a last resort after exhausting other options, including Alternative Dispute Resolution.
That being said, the matter has now been formally charged to court, as his legal counsel, my opinions on whether he defamed Burna Boy or whether the police acted ultra vires no longer hold weight. Similarly, the opinions of the public whether driven by emotions, biases, or support to any party; are irrelevant. The case is now sub judice, i.e., it is under judicial consideration, and only the court has the authority to adjudicate and decide who is right or wrong in this instance.
But I will always emphasize that defamation or not, which is the substantive issue; our client is entitled to bail as statutorily provided in Section 35(4) of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. It is also important to point out that defamation has been decriminalized under Nigerian law, and any person who feels defamed has the right to seek redress by way of damages in a civil action. The police or any other law enforcement agency, therefore, has no jurisdiction or justification to intervene in such matters.
Finally, for those seeking updates on the matter, it is currently before the Federal High Court, Abuja (Court 13). Since it is now a matter of public record, you are free to visit the court registry to obtain updates directly.”
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