The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has turned down a proposal from controversial Nigerian entertainer Darlington Okoye, widely known as Speed Darlington, to appear at its Abuja headquarters on June 26, 2025. This rejection comes as NAPTIP considers collaboration with other agencies, including the Nigerian Immigration Service, to compel Okoye to respond to allegations of intimacy with a 15-year-old girl.
The controversy stems from a viral Instagram video where Okoye allegedly made a claim of having carnal knowledge of the minor. This prompted widespread outrage from viewers and women's rights groups, who accused him of confessing to statutory rape. The backlash quickly garnered official attention, leading the Lagos State Government to report the matter to NAPTIP, which subsequently summoned Okoye for questioning.
NAPTIP had initially requested Okoye's appearance at its Abuja office at 9:00 AM on May 30, as stated in a letter signed by Ngamaraju Mangzha, Head of the Cybercrime Response Team. However, Okoye failed to show up.
In a later communication, Okoye responded to NAPTIP, citing prior commitments and responsibilities as reasons for his inability to appear on the scheduled date, insisting on a rescheduling to June 26. In response, Hakeem Lawal, NAPTIP's Director of Information and Communications Technology and Coordinator, Cybercrime Response Team, reiterated the urgency of the matter, stating that the agency could not accommodate Okoye's schedule and further extended the deadline for his appearance to 1:00 PM on Monday, June 2, 2025.
However, Speed Darlington also failed to appear on this second date. Anonymous officials indicate that legal actions are now probable given his repeated absence. While NAPTIP is still evaluating its options and considering the legal implications, including recent judicial strikes, an official confirmed that Okoye's proposed June 26 date would not be accepted.
NAPTIP's Chief Press Officer, Mr. Vincent Adekoye, affirmed that the agency is "working with all sister agencies" to ensure Okoye's eventual appearance in Abuja, suggesting potential measures to prevent him from leaving the country. The ongoing situation underscores NAPTIP's firm stance on the gravity of the allegations and its commitment to pursuing the matter.
