By Gabriel Ameh
Nigerian singer and entertainer, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has apologised to Grammy-winning musician Burna Boy and appealed to him to withdraw the charges arising from their prolonged dispute.
Speed Darlington made the appeal in a video posted on his Instagram page on Thursday, expressing regret over comments he admitted may have caused the Afrobeats star embarrassment and emotional distress.
In the video, the singer directly addressed Burna Boy, saying he was sorry for the hurt caused by his previous remarks and that he wanted both entertainers to put their disagreement behind them.
He also acknowledged that he had been wrong to assume that everyone shared the same temperament, adding that he was ready to make peace.
As part of his appeal, Speed Darlington promised to stop making direct or indirect comments about Burna Boy’s sexuality if the singer agreed to withdraw the charges against him.
He further pledged to stop mentioning Burna Boy’s name if the dispute was resolved, stressing his desire for peace between them.
The disagreement between the two entertainers dates back to October 2024, when Speed Darlington released videos questioning Burna Boy’s Grammy Award win for his album Twice as Tall.
He also made controversial comments about Burna Boy’s alleged relationship with American music executive Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
The comments reportedly prompted Burna Boy to petition the police over allegations of defamation and cyberstalking.
Speed Darlington was arrested in Lagos on October 4, 2024, and subsequently transferred to Abuja before being released on October 9.
He was arrested again in November 2024 while performing at a show in Owerri, Imo State, following renewed controversy surrounding the dispute.
The singer was later arraigned and granted bail in January 2025 after spending several weeks in detention.
Despite his release, the disagreement continued, with Speed Darlington making further public comments and releasing diss tracks directed at Burna Boy.
His latest apology and appeal to have the charges withdrawn could mark a fresh attempt to end one of Nigeria’s most publicised celebrity disputes.
