Speed Darlington Placed on Interpol Watchlist as NAPTIP Considers ₦50 Million Bounty Over Sex Confession

 

The heat around controversial Nigerian musician Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, continues to intensify following his online confession to having sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has now escalated its pursuit, placing the entertainer on an international watchlist and alerting Interpol to his status.

Speed Darlington’s troubles began after a livestream where he graphically described an encounter with a minor, a video that has since triggered widespread condemnation across social media. According to law enforcement officials, multiple formal invitations were sent to the singer for questioning, all of which were ignored.

Sources close to the investigation disclosed to The PUNCH that the agency is weighing the introduction of a N50 million bounty for credible information on Speed Darlington’s location. This measure, however, will follow what officials are calling a “gestational period” of the current wanted status, as NAPTIP continues to exhaust all procedural channels.

“We have enlisted the support of other agencies including the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and Interpol,” said Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP’s Chief Press Officer. “Procedural notices have gone out to all of them, and we have moved to ensure that wherever he is found, the necessary legal action can be initiated.”

The agency officially declared Speed Darlington wanted on June 27, citing offences such as rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking. The announcement was made on its verified Instagram handle, urging members of the public to provide tips by calling the agency or emailing its headquarters.

Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Speed Darlington has responded with defiance. In a YouTube video uploaded the same day the agency’s announcement was made, he dismissed the charges as baseless and accused NAPTIP of attempting to ride on his fame for online visibility.

“You’re trying to use me for clout,” the artist said in the video. “Where is the evidence? Who filed a complaint? You want to summon a celebrity just to show that you are working?”

He continued by demanding a N2.5 million appearance fee, claiming that any visit to NAPTIP would qualify as a paid engagement. “That’s what I charge to show up. You’ll need to cover travel for me and my assistant too,” he said.

NAPTIP, however, says the situation is far from a publicity stunt. Officials confirmed that the agency followed due process by first inviting the singer to appear at their Abuja headquarters on May 30. A formal letter dated May 28 and signed by the agency’s cybercrime head, Ngamaraju Mangzha, had informed Speed Darlington of the scheduled meeting.

Rather than comply, the singer proposed a self-selected date of June 26. This request was denied in a follow-up letter signed by the agency’s Director of ICT, Hakeem Lawal, citing the urgency and national importance of the matter. A final deadline of June 2 was then given, which also passed without his appearance.

Investigators note that Speed Darlington failed to show up even on the date he selected, a move that has since bolstered the case for elevating him to fugitive status.

“We have followed every legal step necessary,” Adekoye told our correspondent. “He is now designated as a Person of Concern. We are working with other departments to ensure a coordinated response.”

One official who asked not to be named emphasized that international boundaries would not shield the singer from accountability. “If his hands are clean, he should appear before the agency and explain. Running only raises more suspicion. And many of the countries he might flee to also have zero tolerance for such crimes.”

Another source revealed that NAPTIP is actively exploring the legal framework to justify offering a bounty for Speed Darlington’s arrest. “We are working with our legal team to finalize this. A N50 million bounty is being considered, and this would only come after the current wanted status matures.”

The official stressed that the agency remains committed to due process and has been patient despite the nature of the allegations. “He described a grievous act during a live session. It was graphic, disturbing, and sparked immediate outrage. We have handled this civilly and by the book.”

Public pressure is now mounting on NAPTIP to act decisively, especially given the viral nature of the confession video and the sensitive nature of the case. As legal steps progress, the focus remains on locating and bringing Speed Darlington in for questioning.

For now, Speed Darlington remains defiant, but the window for voluntary cooperation is narrowing rapidly. Authorities are tightening their grip, and with Interpol now involved, international implications may soon follow.