NAPTIP Invitation: Speed Darlington Requests Rescheduling as Agency Issues Final Warning

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has issued a stern warning to singer Speed Darlington, demanding his appearance at its Abuja headquarters by 1:00 pm on Monday, June 2, or face legal consequences. This ultimatum follows a viral video in which Darlington admitted to having sexual relations with a minor—an admission that sparked public outrage and prompted official investigations.

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) initially responded to the uproar but later clarified that it lacked jurisdiction due to the unclear location of the alleged incident. The matter was subsequently referred to NAPTIP, which extended an official invitation to Darlington on May 28, asking him to present himself for questioning on Friday, May 31.

In a public response posted on X (formerly Twitter), Darlington rejected the scheduled date, describing the invitation as “sudden and urgent,” and proposed June 26 instead, citing prior commitments. NAPTIP swiftly dismissed the request, reiterating that the original invitation had provided sufficient notice and emphasising the urgency of the matter, which it described as being of “national importance.”

In a formal statement, the agency restated its demand for Darlington to appear in person at its office in Abuja by the new deadline, underlining that his cooperation was critical to the investigation. NAPTIP warned that failure to comply would trigger further legal action.

Following mounting criticism, Darlington has since walked back his confession, claiming that the story he told in the video was entirely fictional.