Controversial Nigerian musician, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington or Akpi, has refuted the authority of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to declare him wanted.
On Friday afternoon, NAPTIP announced via its official Instagram handle, @officialnaptip, that Okoye was wanted in connection with alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
The agency’s post read:
“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 response, during an interview with Saturday Beats, Okoye dismissed the notice, claiming that his legal team was already handling the matter.
“Thanks for the heads up, but I’m not worried. They have no right to declare me wanted. My lawyer has already sent it [the wanted notice] to me. They just want to embarrass themselves. My lawyer will handle it,” he said.
NAPTIP’s declaration comes approximately a month after Okoye failed to honour an invitation to appear at the agency’s headquarters on 30 May 2025, for questioning. The summons followed his live Instagram video, during which he claimed to have had sex with a 15-year-old girl—a statement that sparked widespread outrage.
While the artiste later claimed it was a publicity stunt to promote his music, critics and legal experts have condemned the remarks, arguing that joking about child sexual abuse—even under the guise of a prank—is harmful and inexcusable.
In subsequent communication, NAPTIP confirmed that Okoye requested to postpone his appearance to 26 June 2025 due to prior commitments. However, the agency responded with another letter, signed by its Director of Information and Communications Technology and Coordinator of the Cybercrime Response Team, Hakeem Lawal, stressing the urgency of the situation:
“The agency wishes to state that the invitation was sent to you on Wednesday, 28 May 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.
You are further given till Monday, 2 June 2025, at 1:00 p.m., to appear in person at NAPTIP’s Headquarters, 2028 Dalaba Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, FCT, Abuja.”
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Despite this, the artiste failed to appear for questioning.
Online, Speed Darlington later described the video as a “prank” and reiterated his need for controversy to generate engagement for his music:
“I need controversy to eat,” he wrote.
However, the public and civil society organisations have criticised his justification, insisting that sexual exploitation of minors—whether real or claimed—is no subject for jest.
