The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has turned down controversial entertainer Speed Darlington’s (real name Darlington Okoye) proposal to visit its Abuja office on June 26, 2025, in relation to his shocking online comments.
The agency emphasized that it is collaborating with other law enforcement bodies, including the Nigerian Immigration Service, to ensure Okoye is held accountable for claiming to have had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl—a statement he made during a live Instagram session.
The disturbing video, which quickly circulated online, sparked massive outrage and condemnation from viewers and women’s rights activists, who accused the singer of admitting to statutory r@pe. Within a day, the Lagos State Government reported the incident to NAPTIP, prompting the agency to summon Okoye.
In an official letter signed by Ngamaraju Mangzha, Head of the Cybercrime Response Team, NAPTIP asked Okoye to appear at its headquarters in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, by 9:00 a.m. on May 30, 2025. However, reports confirmed that the entertainer failed to honor the summons.
Okoye later responded, stating:
“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.”
NAPTIP replied through another letter, this time signed by Hakeem Lawal, Director of ICT and Coordinator of the Cybercrime Response Team. The agency made it clear that the matter was too important to delay:
“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 pm, to appear in person at the NAPTIP’s Headquarters: 2028, Dalaba Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, FCT, Abuja, for the interview.
Please, as stated in our earlier correspondence, your cooperation is very critical in this matter.”
Despite the extended deadline, Okoye again failed to appear. According to a source within NAPTIP who spoke anonymously, legal steps are being considered due to his repeated absence:
“He has responded on two occasions, giving reasons for not coming. We will not work with his timing; we will soon come out with our position on this. No one is free in the eyes of the law.”
Another official added:
“NAPTIP wrote to him, inviting him. First time, he replied that we should give him till June 26. He wrote to us ‘Look, I cannot come because of this and that.’ The agency wrote back again to him that this issue is a matter of national importance that requires urgency.
The agency will not work with your schedule. He replied again that he will insist on sticking to that date. Now, the agency is studying the situation. When we are making a decision like that, we usually consult with the relevant departments, and taking into consideration the legal implications of our action.
Don’t forget, even if we say we are taking him to court, they’ve been on strike, they just called it off. So, we are considering our options. But the management is reviewing his response so that we can take a very informed decision.”
When questioned about any effort to prevent Okoye from leaving the country, NAPTIP’s Chief Press Officer, Mr. Vincent Adekoye, affirmed that steps were being taken:
“NAPTIP is a proactive agency. We have activated the necessary partnership on this. We are collaborating with sister law enforcement agencies. NAPTIP is exploring all elements to ensure that he comes to answer for what he said. We are not taking chances. We are working with all state and non-state actors on this matter.”