Nigerian singer and rapper Speed Darlington has responded after missing an invitation from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) over a viral video where he appeared to claim intimacy with a 15-year-old girl.
Following widespread public outrage, NAPTIP had called him to its Abuja office for questioning last week, but he failed to show up. The agency then issued a second summons scheduled for June 2.
In a statement released through his legal team on Instagram, Speed Darlington said the video was meant purely for entertainment and was “made for purely entertainment purpose only,” adding that it does not reflect any real event involving him.
He emphasized that he has never engaged in or considered any sexual misconduct, stating he is “a law-abiding citizen and a man raised by martinet parents under the highest ethical and moral standard.”
While maintaining his innocence, Speed Darlington apologized for any misunderstanding or offense the video might have caused, offering a “profound apology for any bad blood or misunderstanding my innocuous actions may have caused the online community.”
He assured NAPTIP of his willingness to cooperate and pledged to appear before the agency on June 26 for further clarification.
