- NAPTIP has rejected a visit proposal from Speed Darlington for June 26, 2025.
- The agency plans to collaborate with the Nigerian Immigration Service regarding Speed Darlington’s claims about a relationship with a 15-year-old girl.
- NAPTIP is focused on addressing issues related to trafficking and protecting minors.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has declined a proposal by Nigerian entertainer Darlington Okoye, known as Speed Darlington, to visit its Abuja headquarters on June 26, 2025.
The agency also indicated plans to work with sister organizations, including the Nigerian Immigration Service, to ensure Okoye responds to his claim of having a relationship with a 15-year-old girl.
Okoye was summoned by NAPTIP after he stated during a live Instagram video that he had carnal knowledge of the girl.
The video quickly went viral and sparked outrage among viewers and women’s rights advocates, who accused him of admitting to statutory rape.
Within 24 hours, the Lagos State Government reported the incident to NAPTIP, which then invited Okoye for questioning.
A letter from NAPTIP’s Head of Cybercrime Response Team, Ngamaraju Mangzha, directed Okoye to appear at the agency’s Abuja office at 9:00 am on May 30.
However, The PUNCH correspondent who visited the NAPTIP headquarters at Wuse Zone 5 confirmed that Okoye did not attend.
Later, NAPTIP received a reply from Okoye, who said he could not make it on that day and requested to appear on June 26 instead.
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.”
In response, NAPTIP, through a letter signed by its Director of Information and Communications Technology and Coordinator of the Cybercrime Response Team, Hakeem Lawal, stated:
“The Agency wishes to state that the invitation was sent to you on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, giving you sufficient time to prepare and appear as indicated. Moreover, the issue at hand is of urgent national importance and requires an urgent response.
“As such, NAPTIP will not be able to work with your schedule as stated in your response. However, you are further given till Monday, June 2, 2025 at 1:00 pm, to appear in person at the NAPTIP’s Headquarters: 2028, Dalaba Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, FCT, Abuja, for the interview.
“Please, as stated in our earlier correspondence, your cooperation is very critical in this matter.”
However, Sunday PUNCH gathered that Okoye again failed to show up for questioning on the new date.
An official, who requested anonymity, said legal proceedings seem likely since the singer missed two appointments.
The official added that NAPTIP was still considering its options but would not accept the June 26 date proposed by Okoye.
“He has responded on two occasions, giving reasons for not coming. We will not work with his timing; we will soon come out with our position on this. No one is free in the eyes of the law,” the source said.
Another official explained, “NAPTIP wrote to him, inviting him. First time, he replied that we should give him till June 26. He wrote to us ‘Look, I cannot come because of this and that.’ The agency wrote back again to him that this issue is a matter of national importance that requires urgency.
“The agency will not work with your schedule. He replied again that he will insist on sticking to that date. Now, the agency is studying the situation. When we are making a decision like that, we usually consult with the relevant departments, and taking into consideration the legal implications of our action.
“Don’t forget, even if we say we are taking him to court, they’ve been on strike, they just called it off. So, we are considering our options. But the management is reviewing his response so that we can take a very informed decision.”
Regarding efforts to prevent Okoye from fleeing the country, NAPTIP’s Chief Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, said the agency is “working with all sister agencies” to ensure his appearance.
“NAPTIP is a proactive agency. We have activated the necessary partnership on this. We are collaborating with sister law enforcement agencies. NAPTIP is exploring all elements to ensure that he comes to answer for what he said. We are not taking chances. We are working with all state and non-state actors on this matter,” Adekoye said.
