By Onilede Titi Faith
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has escalated its response to entertainer Darlington Okoye, better known as Speed Darlington, by placing him on an international watchlist and notifying Interpol.
The move comes after Okoye repeatedly ignored multiple summons following his shocking online admission of engaging in sexual activity with a 15‑year‑old.
NAPTIP’s investigation began after Okoye’s controversial livestream. Despite being invited for questioning on May 30 and June 2, and even proposing a June 26 appearance himself, he failed to show up.
Officially declared “wanted” on June 27, NAPTIP has now partnered with the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and Interpol to track him down.
Authorities are also considering offering a ₦50 million bounty once his “wanted” status matures, signaling the gravity of the case and providing an incentive for credible information about his whereabouts.
In response, Speed Darlington has dismissed the allegations as baseless, accusing NAPTIP of exploiting the situation for social media attention.
In a video he posted, he claimed he had committed no crime and stated he would only turn himself in if paid a ₦2.5 million appearance fee plus travel expenses.
He also challenged the agency to present concrete evidence.
As the case unfolds, NAPTIP has urged anyone with reliable information about his location to come forward.
With international cooperation now activated, the spotlight remains on whether Speed Darlington will cooperate or continue to evade arrest.
