Speed Darlington, the singer, has spoken online for the first time since his release from police custody.

Darlington, also known as Api, was released on bail on October 9 after spending five days in police custody in Abuja.

His detention stemmed from a complaint filed by Grammy winner Burna Boy, alleging defamation and cyberstalking.

During an Instagram live session, Darlington claimed the police “did me dirty” and seized his phone.

He emphasized that he holds no grudge against Burna Boy but questioned why a “mature person” would be angered by insults.

The singer also admitted ignorance of cybercrime laws, expressing surprise at their existence.

“Let me just be direct, I have no beef with Burna Boy. I and Burna Boy are not quarrelling, nor are we, enemies. It is the Nigerian police that did me dirty. They are still withholding my phone at the moment, and I do not have access to it,” he said.

“Burna Boy felt like I was spoiling something for him. The amount of effort Burna Boy put into this case. I feel like I am even more successful than him.

“He pays big money to blogs to push him, but I’m way bigger than him. But you, on the outside looking in, would not see it. I am stronger than Burna Boy. Back in 2016, they used to call me gay because I usually attended events alone, and they thought I was gay.

“The same thing happened to Burna, and now he is calling the police. I’m stronger than him. I was not aware of the cybercrime law. It surprised me that such laws exist. It’s childish for someone to get upset over an insult… why would you be angry because someone insulted you?”

Toyin Afolayan, the actress better known as Lola Idije, has addressed a claim that her colleague Biodun ‘Omoborty’ Okeowo married her daughter’s boyfriend.

In March, Omoborty announced her engagement to her lover after which they got married.

The controversy began when blogger Gistlover claimed Okeowo snatched Afolayan’s daughter’s partner, sparking tension between the two actresses.

In a now-viral video, Omoborty, 45, refuted the claim, stating that her husband doesn’t know Afolayan’s daughters.

She said Afolayan only spoke to her husband once, via phone call, which she arranged.

“My husband does not know any of her daughters. My husband spoke to mummy Lola for the first time through me because I do not want the narrative that Biodun snatched her husband from someone she takes as her mother. I told her I wanted her to speak to my husband on the phone. I am not going to deny that she is angry with me. And I am not going to address that,” she said.

“I took her as a mother when my mum died. I did not hide that. It was obvious to everybody. That I hold her in high esteem. So, I do not know where the lie is coming from. I am begging everyone involved in this used by Gistlover to tarnish my image. I do not like an elaborate party. My wedding was not the first time I had a close event.”

Afolayan, 65, corroborated Okeowo’s account on her Instagram page.

She said she first spoke to Okeowo’s husband during a phone call introduction. She added that none of her daughters know Okeowo’s husband personally.

“I want to address the story going around since yesterday and to clear the air. The first time I ever spoke to Omoborty’s husband was when she introduced him to me on a phone call, I did not know him before that.

“None of my daughters know him personally. Biodun aka Omoborty did not snatch my daughter’s boyfriend.

“I attended the wedding, there is no way she would do that and I still would attend the wedding.”

Ladipoe, the Nigerian rapper, has weighed into the ongoing feud between Wizkid and Davido.

In May, the Afrobeat heavyweights engaged in a heated war of words on X. Wizkid taunted Davido with a video of him on his knees, pleading and crying after a fan asked him to release new music. Davido also retaliated, labeling Wizkid’s career as “dead”.

Last week, Wizkid reignited their rift — after Davido announced his first single of 2024.

The ‘Made In Lagos’ hitmaker, who has been teasing his upcoming ‘Morayo’ album, also taunted Ademola Adeleke, Davido’s uncle who is governor of Osun state.

Registering his opinion on the rift in an interview with City 105.1 FM, Ladipoe expressed his admiration for both singers despite not being close to them.

The ‘Feeling’ rapper also argued that the rivalry might be “promotional tactics”, adding that both singers are too “business-minded” not to utilise the opportunity.

“Honestly, I have no idea. And why I say so is because this is not the first time that there has been something like this between these two juggernaut artistes you know. So, who is to say? And I’m not personally close to either of them to be able to look behind the veil,” he said.

“I have been somebody that has gotten to admire them from afar. I’ve definitely shaken Wizkid’s hand a couple of times. I’ve shaken David’s hand a couple of times. And in both ways, I respect them. You know what I feel? I fall into the fanbase that feels that they are just too savvy and business-minded to not one day say “pull up, Davido and Wizkid concert or Wizkid and Davido concert.

“I just feel like una dey whine me. That’s my own personal feeling: una dey whine me. They are too big to not see the business opportunity in front of them. So, that’s my take. But whether it’s real or not, who is to say? Beef for promoting stuff is an old tactic. It’s effective. I don’t love it personally, but it’s tried and tested, and it works. It’s not my preferred strategy, but it works.”

Portable earlier claimed that the singers were using the rift to stay relevant. He argued that they are no “longer marketable and relying on online rift to promote their projects”.