Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has been declared wanted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) over alleged rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
NAPTIP announced this via its official Instagram handle, @officialnaptip, on Friday afternoon.
It stated, “WANTED BY NAPTIP. Darlington Okoye, aka 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. Call: 07030000203, info@naptip.gov.ng.”
The declaration follows Okoye’s failure to honour an invitation for questioning regarding his claims during a live Instagram video where he stated that he had sex with a 15-year-old girl.
NAPTIP had summoned Okoye over his statements made in the now-viral video.
A letter signed by the agency’s Head of Cybercrime Response Team, Ngamaraju Mangzha, dated May 28, 2025, directed Okoye to appear at its Abuja head office by 9:00 a.m. on May 30, 2025.
However, the singer did not show up.
Okoye later responded, saying, “Hello, I will not be able to come in today. This is very sudden and urgent for me. I already have commitments and responsibilities.
“I suggest you reschedule for next month, June 26. I will be in Abuja that day.”
Despite the request, after a visit to NAPTIP headquarters on June 26, it was discovered that the singer still failed to appear.
In response, NAPTIP issued a letter signed by its Director of Information and Communications Technology and Coordinator of the Cybercrime Response Team, Hakeem Lawal.
Lawal wrote, “The Agency wishes to state that 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 as stated in your response.
“However, 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.
Lawal added, “Please, as stated in our earlier correspondence, your cooperation is very critical in this matter.”
Despite this extension, Okoye again failed to show up on June 2.
The controversy began on Children’s Day after Okoye, during a livestream, claimed he had once slept with a 15-year-old virgin. The video quickly went viral, drawing outrage from viewers and women’s rights groups who accused him of confessing to statutory rape.
The backlash escalated within 24 hours, prompting the Lagos State Government to report the matter to NAPTIP, which then issued a formal summon to Okoye.
The summon letter stated, “We write to formally invite you to appear before the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in respect of certain video materials recently circulated online, including but not limited to a particular Instagram video wherein you allegedly made statements admitting to having engaged in sexual acts with an underage girl.
“Additional archived videos, now in circulation, similarly contain admissions and degrading commentary concerning minors. These actions, if substantiated, constitute offences under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
“You are hereby invited to appear in person for an interview as regards the alleged actions on Friday, May 30, 2025, by 9 a.m. at the NAPTIP Headquarters: 2028 Dalaba Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, FCT.
“Kindly bring along any legal representation or documents you may consider relevant. Please be informed that your cooperation is critical to ensuring a fair and thorough inquiry into the matter.”
NAPTIP warned, “Failure to honour this invitation may result in further legal action.”
Isaac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, told journalists that the girl referenced in the video intends to file a formal complaint with the police.
In response to the growing criticism, Speed Darlington released a follow-up video, claiming the “confession” was a publicity stunt to promote his new music, saying, “I need controversy to eat.”
In another post, he dismissed the video as “a prank,” but his explanation did little to calm the public outcry.
Many argued that making jokes about child sexual abuse is deeply harmful.
