Nigerian entertainer Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has reacted defiantly after the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) declared him wanted over serious allegations including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
In a video shared on YouTube Monday, Speed Darlington rejected the claims, saying he had done nothing wrong. “I’m not coming. You hear me? I’m not coming. I have not committed any crime. All I did was speak,” he said in the video, dismissing the allegations as unfounded.
He accused NAPTIP of trying to gain attention by targeting him. “Where is your evidence? Who is the complainant? You want to use me to collect social media clout? Hey, look at us. We are doing our job. We summoned a celebrity and he came,” he added.
Okoye further described the agency’s invitation as manipulative and insisted he should be paid if they wanted his appearance. “2.5 million is what I charge for my appearance. You want to pay me 2.5 million plus? Round-trip tickets for me and my PA to come. Because I call that appearance,” he stated.
Referencing the controversial livestream at the centre of the storm, he maintained that there was no concrete evidence against him. “There is no crime. All I did was try to claim it. You have no evidence. You have nothing. So, me coming here is a waste of my time,” he said.
NAPTIP declares Speed Darlington wanted
NAPTIP had announced last Friday that Okoye was wanted to allegations of rape and cyber-related offences, following his failure to honour multiple invitations. The agency posted a notice on Instagram urging anyone with credible information about his whereabouts to contact them.
The controversy stems from a viral video during an Instagram livestream on Children’s Day, in which Okoye claimed to have had sex with a 15-year-old girl. The video sparked widespread outrage and drew attention from the Lagos State government and women’s rights groups.
In response, NAPTIP invited him to appear at its Abuja headquarters on May 30, sending a formal letter on May 28. Okoye declined, citing other engagements, and proposed June 26 instead. The agency rejected the rescheduling and gave him a final deadline of June 2, which he also ignored.
“The issue at hand is of urgent national importance and requires an urgent response,” NAPTIP said in a letter, warning that failure to cooperate could result in legal action.
Following the backlash, Okoye claimed the video was a joke intended to stir controversy and promote his music. “I need controversy to eat,” he said. But critics argued that making light of child sexual abuse — even for publicity — was unacceptable.
NAPTIP, however, insists that if the statements in the video are verified, they could amount to breaches of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, as well as the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Meanwhile, Okoye has hinted at fleeing the country. In a recent video, he declared that he had “left Lagos girls for New York girls,” fuelling speculation that he has relocated abroad to avoid arrest.
