Speed Darlington Sues NAPTIP, Demands N3 Billion for Defamation

Nigerian singer Darlington Achakpo Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has filed a lawsuit against the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), seeking N3 billion in damages over what he describes as a defamatory public notice.

The suit, filed on July 9, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenges NAPTIP’s decision to declare him wanted over alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking. On June 27, NAPTIP had taken to its official Instagram account, @officialnaptip, to publish a post with the words: “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.”

In the suit, Speed Darlington contends that the publication was unfounded and damaging to his personal and professional reputation. His legal team is asking the court to issue a perpetual injunction barring the agency from acting on or disseminating the contents of the June 27 post.

The controversy began after Speed Darlington posted a video on Instagram in which he claimed to have had sexual relations with a minor in a hotel. Although the singer later said the video was a prank intended to stir up attention for his music, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) got involved and referred the matter to NAPTIP for further investigation.

NAPTIP maintained that Speed Darlington was required to report to its Abuja office for questioning, despite his explanation and public apology. The singer argued that artists often use shock tactics as a form of promotion and insisted that he meant no harm.

The case is now before the court as Speed Darlington seeks legal redress, claiming the agency’s actions put his safety at risk and caused serious reputational harm.