John Okoro
Nigerian musician Darlington Okoye, widely recognized as Speed Darlington or Akpi, has passionately denied claims by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) that they possess lawful jurisdiction to label him a wanted individual.
NAPTIP officially listed Darlington as wanted on their Instagram page @officialnaptip earlier today, citing accusations of offenses spanning alleged r*pe, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
The announcement stated, “Darlington Okoye, alias Speed Darlington, is sought regarding serious allegations including r*pe, cyber harassment, and online stalking. Those with verified details on his location should promptly reach out to NAPTIP.”
Reacting to the development in a discussion with Saturday Beats, Darlington remained unfazed, insisting his legal team has the matter under control.
He remarked, “Appreciate the update, but this doesn’t faze me. Declaring me wanted is beyond their authority. My attorney has already reviewed their announcement. They’re courting public ridicule unnecessarily. Legal proceedings will settle this.”
This recent NAPTIP alert follows the artist’s absence from a mandatory invitation extended on May 30, 2025, where he was expected to address assertions he made during an Instagram live stream about an inappropriate encounter with a minor.
The agency disclosed that Darlington postponed his appearance until June 26, 2025, citing prior engagements.
In a follow-up correspondence, NAPTIP’s Director of ICT and Cybercrime Response Team Coordinator, Hakeem Lawal, emphasized, “Our initial summons, issued on May 28, 2025, provided ample preparation time. Given the gravity of these accusations, swift action is non-negotiable.
“Consequently, you have until Monday, June 2, 2025, at precisely 1:00 pm, to present yourself at NAPTIP Headquarters: 2028, Dalaba Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.”
Once more, Okoye failed to attend.
Later, Darlington dismissed his earlier statements as promotional hype for his latest track, quipping, “Controversy is my bread and butter.”
He later recanted, branding the video “just a joke.” Yet, detractors slammed his defense, asserting that trivializing such grave misconduct remains deplorable regardless of intent.
Grace Effiong
