The ongoing confrontation between Nigerian entertainer Darlington Okoye, also known as Speed Darlington and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) following his online confession of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl reveals urgent gaps in Nigeria’s criminal justice system when it comes to digital confessions of sexual abuse.
Development Diaries reports that NAPTIP on Friday, 27 June, declared Okoye wanted in connection with alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
In return, Okoye has declared that he would not honour NAPTIP’S invitation for interrogation. In fact, he even dared the body to provide evidence, or he would sue them for defamation.
Speed Darlington, who posted an online confession after being charged of raping a 15-year-old girl, claimed that what he did is not illegal.
In a country where child sexual exploitation is widespread but often underreported, public figures who trivialise crimes must not be allowed to set a dangerous precedent.
NAPTIP’s initial response, inviting the entertainer for questioning, fell short of the urgency required for such a serious admission.
When someone publicly boasts about raping a minor, the appropriate response should be the immediate issuance of an arrest warrant, not a formal invitation.
NAPTIP needs to also move beyond statements and digital posters by taking visible, coordinated action with law enforcement agencies.
The agency’s decision to place Darlington on an international watchlist and alert Interpol is a step in the right direction, but this must be backed by swift enforcement involving the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
Celebrities cannot be allowed to hide behind their fame or location while ignoring lawful summonses. Failing to act decisively risks sending a message that public figures can admit to crimes against children and walk free, especially when the confessions are documented and circulated online.
Given the rise of social media confessions made under the guise of entertainment or clout chasing’, the agency must adapt its response capacity to match the speed and reach of digital platforms. A reactive approach is no longer sufficient in an age where abuse is broadcast, not hidden.
Development Diaries calls on NAPTIP to immediately move beyond invitations and issue an arrest warrant for Okoye, based on his public confession of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, an act that constitutes statutory rape under Nigerian law.
The agency should activate a coordinated enforcement effort with the NPF, DSS, NIS, and Interpol to ensure his swift apprehension and prosecution.
Additionally, NAPTIP should establish a specialised digital crimes task force to monitor, investigate, and prosecute online confessions or glorifications of child sexual abuse, while providing regular public updates on case progress to ensure transparency, deter future offenders, and reinforce public trust in its mandate.
Transparency, swift justice, and coordinated law enforcement are key to restoring public trust and ensuring that minors are protected from both real-world and online predators.
Photo source: Speed Darlington/IG
