NAPTIP Alerts Interpol, Mulls ₦50m Bounty for Speed Darlington
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has escalated its pursuit of controversial entertainer Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, by placing him on an international watchlist and alerting Interpol.
This move follows the artist’s repeated failure to honour summons over a viral video in which he claimed to have had s+x with a 15-year-old girl.
Despite being declared wanted on June 27 for alleged r+pe, cyberb¥llying, and cyberst+lking, Speed Darlington has remained defiant, insisting he committed no crime.
NAPTIP’s spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, confirmed that the agency is working with the Nigeria Immigration Service, police, DSS, and Interpol to locate and apprehend him. “We have followed the legal process and obtained a court order to watchlist him,” he said.
Officials say that a bounty of ₦50 million may be announced soon for information leading to Okoye’s arrest. “We’re finalizing with the legal department. Once the wanted status matures, we’ll move to the next stage,” a source said.
On its Instagram page, NAPTIP urged anyone with credible information about his whereabouts to call 07030000203 or email info@naptip.gov.ng.
In response, Okoye has mocked the agency online, calling the case a publicity stunt. In a video, he claimed, “There is no crime. All I did was speak,” and demanded ₦2.5 million and airfare as an “appearance fee.”
NAPTIP maintains that Okoye had been given multiple chances to appear, with invitations sent for May 30, June 2, and even accommodating his own proposed date of June 26, which he still ignored.
Adekoye warned, “If someone is declared wanted, they become a target globally. Wherever he is, he should turn himself in.”
