The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has declared Speed Darlington wanted for failing to comply with its invitation following his controversial confession of having sexual intercourse with a minor.
The controversial singer was declared wanted by the government agency on Friday.
NAPTIP in a statement by it’s Head of Media and Publicity, Nnoli Cynthia Obianuju urged anyone with useful information about his whereabouts to contact the agency.
The statement read: “The public is hereby notified that the individual whose photograph appears above is wanted by the National Agency for prohibitation of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in connection with alleged offences of rape, cyberbullying and cyberstalking. Anyone with credible information regarding his whereabout is urged to contacy the agency through the following channels.”
It would be recalled that a viral video surfaced showing the moment Darlington admitted to having sexual encounter with a minor. Following the outrage, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) intervened, but referred the case to NAPTIP for further investigation.
NAPTIP subsequently invited Darlington to appear at its Abuja headquarters on Friday for questioning regarding the alleged sexual assault.
However, in a recent post, the agency shared Darlington’s response wherein he said the invitation was too “sudden and urgent” and proposed a rescheduled meeting for June 26.
NAPTIP, however, rejected the request, emphasising that the original invitation had been sent on May 28, providing ample time for preparation.
The agency added it is a “matter of national importance,” and ordered Darlington to appear in person by 1:00 pm on Monday, June 2, at its Abuja office.
The singer had since come out to claim it was only a prank. He added that artists like himself need controversy to make a living.
“This video is for all of you who are raging because I said I had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old. I’m an artiste, we need controversy to eat. If you are not trending, you are not going to get booked for shows. I just dropped a song titled ‘Village Girl.’ It’s about coitus. I don’t do Christian music. When we release a song like that, we make sexual content to promote it.
“So, that was what I was doing. Don’t give it more light than it is supposed to have. But if any of you is offended, apologies… For intending artists, you have to be controversial. That was what you saw me doing in that video, selling my market. That’s what it is. And I hope you guys understand. Peace!”