Nigerian entertainer Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has defiantly responded after the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) declared him wanted over allegations including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
In a video posted on YouTube Monday, following the agency’s announcement, the controversial musician insisted he committed no crime and dismissed the accusations as baseless.
“I’m not coming. You hear me? I’m not coming. I have not committed any crime. All I did was speak,” Okoye declared.
He accused NAPTIP of using him to gain “social media clout” and questioned the grounds for the agency’s actions.
“Where is your evidence? Who is the complainant? You want to use me to collect social media clout? Hey, look at us. We are doing our job. We summoned a celebrity and he came,” he mocked.
Okoye described the summons as a psychological ploy and demanded compensation if the agency wanted him to appear.
“2.5 million is what I charge for my appearance. You want to pay me 2.5 million plus round-trip tickets for me and my PA to come. Because I call that appearance,” he added.
Referring to his controversial Instagram livestream, Okoye maintained there was no evidence against him.
“There is no crime. All I did was try to claim it. You have no evidence. You have nothing. So me coming here is a waste of my time,” he said.
NAPTIP had declared Okoye wanted on Friday via its official Instagram account, urging anyone with credible information about his whereabouts to come forward.
“Darlington Okoye, aka Speed Darlington, is wanted in connection with alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking,” the post read.
The declaration followed Okoye’s failure to honor multiple summons after a viral video showed him claiming to have had sex with a 15-year-old girl during a livestream on Children’s Day—an incident that sparked widespread outrage and drew condemnation from women’s rights groups and the Lagos State government.
In response, NAPTIP formally invited Okoye on May 28 to appear at its Abuja headquarters on May 30. Okoye declined, citing prior commitments and proposed June 26 as an alternative date. NAPTIP rejected the postponement and set a final deadline of June 2, which he again failed to meet.
“The issue at hand is of urgent national importance and requires an urgent response,” the agency’s letter emphasized, warning that non-cooperation could lead to legal action.
Following the controversy, Okoye claimed the video was a prank and part of a publicity stunt to promote his music, stating, “I need controversy to eat.” However, critics condemned the trivialization of child sexual abuse as harmful and unacceptable.
Despite his claims, NAPTIP maintains that, if proven, his statements could constitute violations of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Meanwhile, reports suggest the entertainer has fled the country after posting a video claiming he “has left Lagos girls for New York girls.”
