The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other related matters (NAPTIP) has placed Nigerian singer, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, on an international watch list over allegations of sexual involvement with a minor.
The agency confirmed it has also alerted the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) after the musician reportedly ignored multiple summonses regarding an online confession in which he allegedly admitted to having sex with a 15-year-old girl.
NAPTIP’s Chief Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, confirmed the development to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, noting that the agency is collaborating with other law enforcement bodies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and Interpol, to apprehend the entertainer.
“We have placed all of them on procedural notice so that wherever they see him, they can take action, because we have already given him enough opportunities.
“We are working to limit his access to people, wherever he may be hiding, because he is alleged to be a dangerous individual. He has openly admitted to raping a 14-year-old girl, and as recently as yesterday, he confessed to raping a 15-year-old.
“We call on any country where he is hiding to place him under surveillance, arrest him, and hand him over to the appropriate authorities. He is alleged to be an extremely dangerous man who must be removed from society,” he added.
Speed Darlington had defied an arrest warrant by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other related offences (NAPTIP) which declared him wanted over allegations of rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
In a video he shared on his TikTok on Monday, the singer dismissed the allegations and said he would not honour the agency’s summons.
“I’m not coming. You hear me? I’m not coming. I have not committed any crime. All I did was speak,” Okoye said.
NAPTIP on Friday declared Okoye wanted, citing his refusal to respond to several invitations following a controversial Instagram livestream in which he claimed to have had sex with a 15-year-old girl.
The incident, which is said to have occurred on Children’s Day May 27, sparked widespread attention and drew criticism from women’s rights groups and the Lagos State government.
The agency’s official notice, posted on Instagram, read, “Darlington Okoye, aka Speed Darlington, is wanted in connection with alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.”
It urged members of the public with credible information on his whereabouts to contact the agency.
Reacting to the development, Okoye accused NAPTIP of using his name for publicity.
“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 said.
He further described the agency’s invitation as an attempt at manipulation and demanded payment if he was to appear.
“2.5 million [Naira] is what I charge for my appearance. You want to pay me 2.5 million [Naira] plus? Round trip tickets for me and my PA to come. Because I call that appearance,” he said.
Defending himself, Okoye insisted the controversial livestream did not amount to a crime, and maintained that no evidence had been presented 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 declared.
NAPTIP had issued an invitation to the singer on May 28, asking him to appear at its Abuja headquarters on May 30.
However, Okoye failed to honour the summons, citing prior commitments and proposing June 26 as an alternative date.
The agency rejected the postponement and gave a final deadline of June 2, which he also ignored.
“The issue at hand is of urgent national importance and requires an urgent response,” a letter from NAPTIP stated, warning of legal consequences for noncompliance.
Following the uproar, Okoye attempted to downplay the video, claiming it was a prank intended to boost his music promotion.
“I need controversy to eat,” he said.
NAPTIP had maintained that the entertainer’s comments, if verified, could amount to violations of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
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