Darlington Okoye, controversial Nigerian singer better known as Speed Darlington, has reacted after failing to appear before the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons following an invitation regarding a viral video where he appeared to have claimed to have had intimacy with a 15-year-old.
He is asking the agency to reschedule the invitation for June 26.
Recall that the singer sparked public outrage after a video surfaced online where he seemingly bragged about being intimate with a 15-year-old girl.
The statement prompted NAPTIP to issue an invitation, asking him to report to its Abuja office last week for questioning. However, he failed to honour the appointment, leading the agency to issue another invitation for June 2.
In a statement released through his legal representatives and shared on Instagram on Monday, Speed Darlington clarified that his comments in the video were not to be taken seriously and were merely “for clout.”
The statement, addressed to NAPTIP’s Director General, read, “I acknowledge receipt of your letter (captioned as above) and sent to my Instagram handle on 28th May, 2025, inviting me to offer clarifications on certain online videos you alleged contain admissions of sexual acts (if substantiated) and thus constituting offences under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc Act, 2015.
“As a law-abiding citizen and a man raised by martinet parents under the highest ethical and moral standard, | have never engaged in or contemplated involving myself in any form of sexual predation, sexual violation or any form of untoward act against the other sex.
“As a role model, I am alive to my responsibilities in helping to mould lasting moral valours amongst our young ones and would never deliberately engage in any form of activity that contravenes this noble responsibility.
“For the sake of clarity, I reiterate that the said Instagram video was made for purely entertainment purpose only and does not reflect any previous or future event involving my person with any female; minor or Major. Sadly, what was meant to be a joke has been blown out of proportion by persons looking for fault where none exists.”
While insisting that he had committed no crime, Speed Darlington offered an apology for any misunderstanding the video might have caused, stating, “Without conceding to any wrong doing, may I offer my profound apology for any bad blood or misunderstanding my innocuous actions may have caused the online community, but to the discerning, the video was only for clout and entertainment purposes.”
He assured the agency of his willingness to cooperate, stating that he would appear at the NAPTIP office on June 26, 2025, for further clarifications.
“If the agency requires further clarifications, I undertake to avail myself at the agency’s office on June 26, 2025.”
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