The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons is weighing possible legal measures against Nigerian entertainer Darlington Okoye, better known as Speed Darlington, after he failed to report to its Abuja office on Friday, May 30.
The summons came in response to Okoye’s startling admission during a live Instagram broadcast, where he claimed to have had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl, a statement that rapidly spread online and triggered widespread public outrage.
The summons, issued on Wednesday and signed by Ngamaraju Mangzha, Head of NAPTIP’s Cybercrime Response Team, instructed the singer to appear at the agency’s Abuja headquarters by 9:00 a.m. on Friday.
However, by noon, a reporter at the Wuse Zone 5 office confirmed that Okoye had yet to arrive.
“As of now, we are still waiting. If we don’t see him, we will take action based on the notice issued. The last paragraph is very clear,” an official from the agency stated.
An anonymous official revealed that Okoye had not provided any reason for missing the appointment.
“We issued a statement summoning him to appear in our office today at 09:00 am. It is evening now and we are still waiting. Maybe he had a delayed flight. He has not communicated officially with us.
“Immediately he released that viral video, people started tagging us. They tagged the Lagos State Government. They called our Lagos zonal commander to say that they could not establish that the offence was committed in Lagos because they have jurisdiction only within Lagos.
“They now said they will refer the case to us because we have a national reach. They called our Lagos Commander, who gave them our email address here. So, they escalated the matter.”
The video, which emerged on Tuesday, showed Okoye asserting that he had been intimate with a “15-year-old virgin.”
This statement was met with immediate outrage from the public and women’s rights groups, who condemned it as an open admission of statutory rape.
Within just 24 hours, the Lagos State Government escalated the case to NAPTIP, citing its limited jurisdiction. The agency swiftly responded by summoning Okoye.
“We write to formally invite you to appear before the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in respect of certain video materials recently circulated online, including but not limited to a particular Instagram video wherein you allegedly made statements admitting to having engaged in sexual acts with an underage girl.
“Additional archived videos, now in circulation, similarly contain admissions and degrading commentary concerning minors. These actions, if substantiated, constitute offences under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
“You are hereby invited to appear in person for an interview as regards the alleged actions on Friday, May 30, 2025, by 9 a.m. at the NAPTIP Headquarters: 2028 Dalaba Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, FCT.
“Kindly bring along any legal representation or documents you may consider relevant. Please be informed that your cooperation is critical to ensuring a fair and thorough inquiry into the matter.”
The letter ended with a firm caution, “Failure to honour this invitation may result in further legal action.”
NAPTIP’s Chief Press Officer, Mr. Adekoye Vincent, confirmed that the agency’s Director-General, Binta Bello, is closely watching developments.
“We are concerned. Our DG is seriously concerned. She’s monitoring the situation by the hour. Why? It’s an issue that borders on a minor, the human rights of the minor, and sexual abuse. Anything could have happened to that girl.
“He was not under duress. It was an admission. Look at what he released yesterday: a video saying that if he had known that this 15-year-old would generate this, he would have gone for a 12-year-old.”
When asked about whether NAPTIP would arrest Okoye or transfer the case to the police, Adekoye stated:
“His failure to appear will ensure that we know what to do within the law. It is clear. It may be prosecution or arrest, but whatever it is, we are very concerned.”
As the backlash intensified, Isaac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose—revealed that the girl mentioned in the video planned to file an official police report.
In an attempt to ease tensions, Speed Darlington later claimed the video was not a genuine confession but a publicity stunt aimed at promoting his music.
“I need controversy to eat,” he said, calling the video “a prank.”
Nonetheless, this retraction did little to quell public anger, with critics emphasizing that making jokes about child sexual abuse is dangerous and wholly unacceptable.