Nigerian singer Speed Darlington has requested a new date, June 26, to meet with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) after missing a scheduled appearance.
The agency invited him to clarify comments made in a viral video where he appeared to boast about intimacy with a 15-year-old, sparking widespread backlash.
NAPTIP initially summoned him to its Abuja office last week, but he did not attend, prompting a second invitation for June 2.
In a statement on Monday, June 2, shared on Instagram via his legal team, Darlington dismissed the video as a joke “for clout” and not reflective of any real events.
The statement, addressed to NAPTIP’s Director General, read, “I acknowledge receipt of your letter (captioned as above) and sent to my Instagram handle on 28th May, 2025, inviting me to offer clarifications on certain online videos you alleged contain admissions of sexual acts (if substantiated) and thus constituting offences under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc Act, 2015.
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“As a law-abiding citizen and a man raised by martinet parents under the highest ethical and moral standard, I have never engaged in or contemplated involving myself in any form of sexual predation, sexual violation or any form of untoward act against the other sex.
“As a role model, I am alive to my responsibilities in helping to mould lasting moral valours amongst our young ones and would never deliberately engage in any form of activity that contravenes this noble responsibility.
“For the sake of clarity, I reiterate that the said Instagram video was made for purely entertainment purpose only and does not reflect any previous or future event involving my person with any female; minor or Major.
“Sadly, what was meant to be a joke has been blown out of proportion by persons looking for fault where none exists.”
Darlington apologised for any misunderstanding, saying, “Without conceding to any wrong doing, may I offer my profound apology for any bad blood or misunderstanding my innocuous actions may have caused the online community, but to the discerning, the video was only for clout and entertainment purposes.”
He committed to cooperating with NAPTIP, stating, “If the agency requires further clarifications, I undertake to avail myself at the agency’s office on June 26, 2025.”