Nigerian singer Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has been declared wanted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). He faces allegations of rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking. This comes after he repeatedly failed to honour summons for questioning over a viral Instagram Live video.
The video, which surfaced on Children’s Day, showed Speed Darlington claiming to have had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl. The clip caused outrage across Nigeria, with activists and the public condemning his statement. Following the backlash, the Lagos State Government reported the incident to NAPTIP for investigation.
On May 28, NAPTIP issued a summons asking Speed Darlington to appear at their Abuja office on May 30. The agency said the video and other archived clips contained “admissions and degrading commentary concerning minors.” They explained that if proven, these actions would break the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2015, and the Cybercrime Act, 2015.
Speed Darlington confirmed he received the summons but said he could not appear on the scheduled date. He suggested June 26 instead, but NAPTIP rejected his proposal due to the urgency of the case. They gave him a final deadline of June 2 at 1:00 p.m., but he did not show up.
Amid growing criticism, Speed Darlington released a statement on Instagram denying wrongdoing. He said the video was only a “joke” for “clout and entertainment.” He apologised for the misunderstanding, adding that he would never deliberately act against his responsibilities as a role model.
This is not his first legal issue. In January 2025, Speed Darlington was released on ₦20 million bail after being detained since November 2024. His arrest then was linked to claims he made against Burna Boy, accusing him of an inappropriate relationship with American rapper Diddy. These claims led to his diss track ‘Baby Oil’. Despite being granted bail, he was held in Owerri for weeks. After his release, he sued the Inspector-General of Police for ₦300 million, alleging his rights were violated during detention.
NAPTIP has now declared him wanted. They are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact them immediately via 07030000203, 627, or info@naptip.gov.ng. Authorities continue efforts to locate and arrest him.
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