Child abuse video: NAPTIP rejects Speed Darlington’s June 26 appearance request

Darlington

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons said it would not agree to the proposal of the controversial Nigerian entertainer, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, to appear at its Abuja headquarters on June 26, 2025.

The agency also hinted at collaboration with sister agencies, including the Nigerian Immigration Service, to ensure Okoye answered for his claim of having intimacy with a 15-year-old girl.

NAPTIP had summoned Okoye over his claim of having carnal knowledge of the girl during a live Instagram video.

The clip quickly went viral, triggering outrage from viewers and women’s-rights groups which accused him of confessing to statutory rape.

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Within 24 hours, the backlash drew official attention as the Lagos State Government reported the matter to NAPTIP, which summoned Okoye for questioning.

A letter signed by the agency’s Head of Cybercrime Response Team, Ngamaraju Mangzha, and addressed to Okoye, asked the singer to appear at its Abuja head office at 09:00 am on May 30.

However, our correspondent who visited the agency’s headquarters confirmed that the singer did not show up at NAPTIP’s Wuse Zone 5 office.

Later, NAPTIP said it received an official response from Okoye, who claimed he could not visit.

He insisted on appearing on June 26.

Okoye said, “Hello, I will not be able to come in today. This is very sudden and urgent for me. I already have commitments and responsibilities. I suggest you reschedule for next month, June 26. I will be in Abuja that day.”

NAPTIP replied Okoye in a letter signed by its Director of Information and Communications Technology and Coordinator, Cybercrime Response Team, Hakeem Lawal.