Controversial Nigerian singer, Speed Darlington, is once again at the center of a dramatic twist as his lawyer, Stanley Alieke, announced the termination of their professional relationship. This development adds another layer of complexity to Darlington’s ongoing feud with Grammy award-winning artist Burna Boy.
In an Instagram story, Alieke, the principal partner of Law Capitol, disclosed the decision to sever ties with the embattled singer. “I and my law firm (Law Capitol) have officially withdrawn from legally representing Mr. Darlington Achakpo, aka Speed Darlington/Akpi, and cease to act as his legal attorneys,” he stated.
The announcement came barely a week after Darlington’s release from Kuje Prison, where he was detained for two months on defamation charges.
Stanley Alieke’s decision to step aside stems from a breach of their legal agreement.
Alieke had been a vocal defender of the singer, previously accusing Burna Boy of leveraging police influence to prolong Darlington’s detention. He maintained that the defamation allegations should have been handled as a civil matter, not a criminal case.
Before withdrawing, Alieke had also criticized the conditions of Darlington’s ₦20 million bail, which included the surrender of his passport and a surety.
The saga began in late 2024 when Darlington released the diss track Baby Oil, taking aim at Burna Boy, American music mogul Diddy, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The song gained traction on Spotify Nigeria, but it also sparked a legal battle with Burna Boy, who accused Darlington of defamation.
Darlington’s arrests in October and November 2024 only added fuel to the fire. Despite being granted bail in December, he remained in detention until a court order secured his release on January 21, 2025.
Darlington claims he deliberately stayed in prison to avoid paying an exorbitant bail amount. “I had the money for the original bail, but after calculating my potential earnings during the holiday season, I decided to remain in prison,” he explained in a recent Instagram video.
In a shocking twist, Darlington alleged on Monday that an assassination attempt was made on his life. Sharing footage of a car riddled with bullets, the singer accused his unnamed adversaries of orchestrating the attack.
“There’s truth to what I’m saying. The police officers with me confirmed the gunshots. This is crazy. You try to take my life—is this necessary?” Darlington stated, suggesting the attack was linked to his ongoing feud.
Despite the controversies, Darlington appears undeterred. In his first Instagram video since his release, he promised fans more content inspired by his hit diss track. “Expect more Baby Oil content from me in full effect,” he declared, adding that he had “become the ruler” during his time in Kuje Prison.
The singer also hinted at new music, announcing an upcoming single titled O Wa.
