“Wanted Notice Defamatory” — Speed Darlington Sues NAPTIP For ₦3bn Over Alleged Rights Violation, Says No Crime Was Committed

Nigerian entertainer and musician Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has initiated a N3 billion lawsuit against the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The suit, filed on July 9, 2025, under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1354/2025, accuses NAPTIP of defamation and unlawful action for declaring him wanted in a widely circulated notice on June 27, 2025.

Represented by a consortium of female attorneys, Speed Darlington is seeking N3 billion in damages, claiming that NAPTIP’s declaration, which labeled him as wanted and included his photograph and name under the headline “Wanted by NAPTIP,” was baseless and has caused significant harm to his reputation and personal safety. The notice was published across multiple national newspapers, both in print and online, amplifying its impact.

In addition to financial compensation, the musician is requesting a perpetual injunction to prevent NAPTIP, its agents, or any associated parties from enforcing or acting on the June 27 publication. He argues that the agency’s actions were not only defamatory but also lacked legal grounding, as he denies the allegations against him.

NAPTIP’s actions stem from allegations that Speed Darlington confessed to sexual involvement with a minor during a viral Instagram Live session. The agency issued a summons on May 28, 2025, requiring him to appear at its Abuja headquarters by May 30, 2025, for questioning regarding statements allegedly admitting to sexual acts with a 15-year-old girl. Speed Darlington requested a rescheduling to June 26, citing prior commitments, but NAPTIP rejected this, setting a final deadline of June 2, 2025, which he also failed to honor.

Following his non-compliance, NAPTIP declared him wanted on June 27, 2025, and escalated the matter by placing him on an international watch list and alerting Interpol, in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS). NAPTIP’s Chief Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, described the musician as a “dangerous individual” based on his alleged admissions to sexual acts with minors, including a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, and urged international authorities to apprehend him.

In a video posted on his TikTok page, Speed Darlington dismissed the allegations, asserting that his statements were meant as a publicity stunt to promote his music and not an admission of guilt. “I’m not coming. I have not committed any crime. All I did was speak,” he stated, challenging NAPTIP to provide evidence and a complainant. He further accused the agency of seeking social media attention and demanded they retract the wanted notice, threatening legal action for defamation.

In a subsequent Instagram post, he claimed the controversy was “blown out of proportion” and apologized for any misunderstanding, insisting the video was for “clout and entertainment” and that he would never engage in activities contravening his responsibilities as a role model.

The lawsuit highlights a contentious clash between Speed Darlington and NAPTIP, raising questions about freedom of speech, the legal threshold for public declarations of wanted status, and the balance between protecting minors and safeguarding individual rights. Advocacy groups and women’s rights organizations have called for accountability, citing the severity of the allegations, while some online sentiments, including a comment from lawyer Ayo Shonaiya, suggest that Speed Darlington’s “irresponsible talk” may not legally constitute a crime without concrete evidence.

The case is set to be heard at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with Speed Darlington’s legal team arguing that NAPTIP’s actions have caused irreparable harm. Meanwhile, NAPTIP maintains that the musician’s statements, if substantiated, violate the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

Speed Darlington has also been involved in a separate legal battle, having filed a N300 million fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over an alleged unlawful detention related to defamation and cyberstalking charges involving fellow artist Burna Boy. That case, adjourned to March 19, 2025, follows his release on N20 million bail in January 2025.