Controversial Nigerian singer and internet personality, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has defiantly responded after being declared wanted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) over allegations, including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
In a YouTube video posted on Monday, the entertainer dismissed the allegations as baseless, insisting he had committed no crime and accusing NAPTIP of attempting to exploit his celebrity status for relevance.
“I’m not coming. I haven’t committed any crime. All I did was speak,” he said, brushing off the agency’s summons. “Where is your evidence? Who reported me? You’re trying to gain social media clout,. ‘Hey, look at us, we invited a celebrity and he showed up.’ That’s the game.”
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Speed Darlington further described the agency’s invitation as “psychological warfare,” declaring that his appearance would come at a cost. “You want me to come? Pay N2.5 million. That’s my appearance fee. Plus round-trip tickets for me and my PA.”
Referring to the controversial Instagram livestream that sparked outrage, he maintained there was no concrete evidence against him. “There is no crime. I was only pretending. So coming to meet you is a waste of my time.”
NAPTIP had officially declared Okoye wanted last Friday via Instagram, stating he was needed in connection with allegations of rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking. This followed his refusal to honour previous invitations after a video emerged in which he claimed, during a Children’s Day livestream, to have had sex with a 15-year-old girl.
The clip triggered national uproar, with women’s groups and the Lagos State government demanding immediate action. The agency sent a formal invitation on May 28, asking Okoye to appear in Abuja on May 30. He declined, citing scheduling conflicts, and suggested June 26 instead, a proposal NAPTIP rejected. He failed to meet the agency’s final deadline of June 2.
“The matter is of urgent national importance and requires prompt attention,” NAPTIP stated in a follow-up letter, warning of legal consequences for non-compliance.
In subsequent posts, Speed Darlington claimed the video was a staged stunt aimed at generating buzz for his music. “I need controversy to survive,” he said. However, critics argued that joking about child sexual abuse is not only distasteful but potentially criminal.
NAPTIP emphasized that, regardless of his intent, the statements made, if verified, may amount to violations of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and the Cybercrime Act, 2015.
