Wanted Speed Darlington Sues NAPTIP, Claims Public Declaration Has Endangered His Life, Seeks ₦3 Billion Damages

 

Popular Nigerian artist and internet sensation, Darlington Achakpo, better known by his stage name Speed Darlington, has taken legal action against the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The musician is demanding ₦3 billion in damages after being declared wanted by the agency over alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor.

The lawsuit, filed on July 9, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, is registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/1354/2025. A group of female legal practitioners is representing the controversial entertainer in what is quickly becoming one of the most high-profile legal battles involving a celebrity and a federal agency in recent times.

Speed Darlington is accusing NAPTIP of defamation, unlawful harassment, and violation of his rights following a public notice circulated by the agency on June 27. The publication, headlined “Wanted by NAPTIP,” included his name and photograph and was distributed widely across national newspapers and online media platforms.

According to the court documents, the musician argues that NAPTIP’s decision to declare him wanted was premature, baseless, and deeply damaging to his public image and personal safety. He maintains that the accusations levelled against him are unfounded and that the widespread distribution of the wanted notice has triggered both national and international alarm against him.

Apart from the ₦3 billion compensation, Speed Darlington is requesting a perpetual injunction to restrain NAPTIP and its representatives from acting upon or enforcing the content of the publication. He wants the agency, along with its agents, operatives, or any person acting on its directives, to be barred from taking further action based on the June 27 declaration.

The circumstances leading to the dispute stem from serious allegations made by the agency. NAPTIP placed the entertainer on its international watch list following claims that he had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl. The agency further stated that it had informed the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) due to the artist’s refusal to respond to multiple official summonses.

According to NAPTIP’s spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, the move was taken after the artist allegedly made online statements suggesting sexual involvement with minors. Adekoye stated that the agency had exhausted all formal procedures to reach Speed Darlington and had no choice but to escalate the matter to international law enforcement.

His remarks revealed the gravity with which NAPTIP regards the case. He said that the agency is collaborating with bodies such as the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and Interpol to ensure the musician is apprehended and brought to justice.

“We alerted all relevant agencies after he failed to cooperate. He is being treated as a dangerous individual, and any country where he is spotted has been urged to monitor, arrest, and extradite him,” Adekoye told SaharaReporters.

Despite these grave allegations, Speed Darlington has remained defiant. In a recent video posted to his official TikTok page, he denied any wrongdoing and dismissed NAPTIP’s claims as false and ridiculous. He stated firmly that he has no intention of honouring any of the agency’s invitations.

“You hear me? I’m not coming. I did not commit any crime. All I did was speak,” he said in the video, drawing sharp criticism from social media users and observers.

This standoff between Speed Darlington and NAPTIP raises important questions about due process, public accountability, and the boundaries between digital speech and legal culpability. While the agency believes it is acting within the confines of law enforcement to protect minors and the public, the musician asserts that his rights are being trampled without proper judicial procedures.

Legal analysts watching the case say the outcome could set a precedent for how Nigerian authorities handle high-profile suspects, especially in the digital age where online content can be interpreted in various ways. Public interest remains high as the legal drama unfolds, with many awaiting the Federal High Court’s response to the entertainer’s demand for justice and reparations.