“I Am Not Coming, Keep Using My Name to Chase Clout” — Speed Darlington Fires Back at NAPTIP After Being Declared Wanted

Controversial Nigerian singer and social media personality, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has responded defiantly to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) after the agency declared him wanted over alleged offences including cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and rape.

NAPTIP had issued a wanted notice last Friday on its official social media pages, calling for information on the singer’s whereabouts. This move followed Speed Darlington’s claim during a live Instagram session that he had engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl — a statement that sparked outrage online and prompted the agency to invite him for questioning. The singer, however, failed to honour the invitation.

In a video posted on June 30, Speed Darlington dismissed the allegations, stating unequivocally that he has committed no crime. He described his statements in the controversial Instagram video as “irresponsible talk,” but argued that speaking recklessly does not amount to a crime.

“This video is for NAPTIP. All this ‘wanted’ you posted everywhere, take that down. I am not coming. I have not committed any crime. All I did was speak. Irresponsible talk is not a crime. Where is your evidence? Who is the complainant?” he said.

The singer accused NAPTIP of using his name to gain relevance and social media attention, alleging that the agency wanted to boost its public image by summoning a celebrity.

“Una wan use me collect social media clout… ‘We are doing our job, we summoned a celebrity’. I was born here and I know the psychological game when una wan use my name blow,” he added.

Speed Darlington further demanded that the agency pay him N2.5 million as his standard appearance fee, along with a round-trip ticket for him and his personal assistant, before he would consider appearing before the agency’s panel.

“N2.5 million is what I charge for appearance. Una go pay me N2.5 million plus round-trip ticket for me and my PA because I call that appearance. You have no evidence. There is no crime,” he insisted.

He also claimed that NAPTIP’s action was in response to pressure from certain social media users, particularly women “in their 30s and 20s without husbands,” whom he accused of spearheading calls for him to be investigated.

“Which one is cyberstalking? Who did I stalk? Cyberbullying? Who did I bully? Did I call any name in the video? You are there throwing English up and down trying to intimidate people so you can look important,” Speed Darlington said.

As of the time of this report, NAPTIP has not issued any further statement regarding Speed Darlington’s response.