•Speed Darlington
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has declared controversial Nigerian rapper, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, wanted over alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
In a statement posted on its official Instagram account today, NAPTIP announced the declaration.
“WANTED BY NAPTIP. Darlington Okoye, a.k.a. Speed Darlington, is wanted in connection with alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
“Anyone with credible information on his whereabouts is urged to contact NAPTIP immediately,” the statement read.
The declaration follows the singer’s failure to honour multiple summons for questioning in connection with a now-viral Instagram Live video, where he claimed to have had sex with a 15-year-old girl, reports Channels TV.
The video, released on Children’s Day, sparked national outrage and drew condemnation from rights activists and the public alike.
Within 24 hours of the incident, the Lagos State Government formally reported the matter to NAPTIP, prompting the agency to initiate a probe.
A letter signed by the agency’s Head of Cybercrime Response Team, Ngamaraju Mangzha, dated 28 May 2025, was issued to the singer, summoning him to appear at NAPTIP’s headquarters in Abuja by 9:00 a.m. on May 30.
In the letter, the agency referenced the Instagram video and other archived clips allegedly containing “admissions and degrading commentary concerning minors.”
“These actions, if substantiated, constitute offences under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015,” the letter read.
Speed Darlington, in response, acknowledged receipt of the summons and stated his inability to attend on the stipulated date, offering instead to appear on 26 June.
NAPTIP, however, rejected the proposed date. In a follow-up letter signed by the Director of ICT & Cybercrime Response Team, Hakeem Lawal, the agency insisted:
“The invitation was sent to you on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, giving you sufficient time to prepare and appear as indicated.
“Moreover, the issue at hand is of urgent national importance and requires an urgent response.
As such, NAPTIP will not be able to work with your schedule. You are further given till Monday, June 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. to appear in person at the NAPTIP Headquarters: 2028, Dalaba Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, FCT, Abuja, for the interview.”
Invite Deferment
Despite the deadline, Speed Darlington failed to appear. Our correspondent, who visited NAPTIP’s Abuja office on 26 June — the date the singer proposed — also confirmed that he did not show up.
As the controversy deepened, the singer took to Instagram to issue a statement denying any wrongdoing.
“Sadly, what was meant to be a joke has been blown out of proportion by persons looking for fault where none exists.
“Without conceding to any wrongdoing, may I offer my profound apology for any bad blood or misunderstanding my innocuous actions may have caused the online community?” he said.
He insisted, “To the discerning, the video was only for clout and entertainment… I would never deliberately engage in any activity that contravenes my responsibilities as a role model.”
The ‘Bangdadadang’ and ‘Baby Oil’ crooner reiterated that he had not sexually assaulted any minors, adding:
“I have neither engaged in nor contemplated any acts of sexual predation, sexual violation, or any other untoward behaviour against the opposite sex.”
He described himself as a law-abiding citizen raised under strict moral standards, and claimed the video was merely a promotional stunt for his new single, Village Girl.
Nonetheless, civil society organisations and legal experts continue to question the appropriateness of the so-called “clout-chasing” approach, warning that trivialising child sexual abuse could foster harmful societal attitudes.
This latest controversy comes barely five months after Speed Darlington’s release from detention following his arrest in November 2024 over a separate matter involving fellow artiste Burna Boy.
The rapper had accused Burna Boy of being involved in an inappropriate relationship with embattled American rapper and music executive, Diddy. The feud led to the release of a diss track, Baby Oil, which trended on Nigerian streaming charts.
Darlington was arrested during a performance in Owerri and detained for weeks despite being granted bail. After several court orders and claims that police defied directives, he was finally released in January 2025 on ₦20 million bail, with a civil servant surety. His trial was set for March 18.
In a separate legal battle, he filed a ₦300 million lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police, accusing the authorities of violating his rights. That case was adjourned to January 27 following a request for more time by the IGP’s legal team.
