Speed Darlington, has filed a N3 billion lawsuit against the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), accusing the agency of defamation following its public declaration that he was wanted
The legal action, initiated on July 9, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja by a team of female lawyers representing the entertainer, seeks substantial damages and a court order to stop NAPTIP from acting on or circulating its earlier statement.
NAPTIP had announced on June 27 via its official Instagram account that Darlington—whose real name is Darlington Achakpo Okoye—was wanted in connection with allegations of rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking. The post included a call for anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the agency.
Reacting to the development, Speed Darlington insisted that the allegations were groundless and claimed the agency’s actions had exposed him to public ridicule, threats, and reputational harm. He asked the court to issue a permanent injunction barring NAPTIP from further publishing or acting on the wanted notice.
The controversy stems from a viral video where a man resembling the singer appeared to admit to having sexual relations with a minor. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) flagged the clip and passed the matter to NAPTIP for further investigation.
While the agency took the matter seriously, Speed Darlington claimed it was all a joke taken out of context. He described the video as staged content created to stir attention, which he said is a common promotional tactic in the entertainment industry. Though he apologized to anyone offended by the video, he maintained that it was not a true confession.
Despite his explanation, NAPTIP has insisted that the singer must report to their Abuja office for questioning. Darlington, however, is now demanding legal redress, insisting that the wanted declaration was unwarranted and has unfairly tarnished his image.
