Controversial singer Portable, whose real name is Habeeb Okikiola, has publicly condemned fellow artist Speed Darlington following a viral video where Darlington claimed to have had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl.
In an Instagram video shared on Friday, Portable criticized Darlington—real name Darlington Okoye—accusing him of disgracing Igbo men and exploiting an underage girl. Portable contrasted Darlington’s actions with the reputation of Igbo men as providers who care for women, insisting Darlington deserves to face jail time.
“This man called Speed Darling, aka Akpi, is a disgrace to Igbo men. An Igbo man would pay before sleeping with you. You will eat well—chicken, fish—and sleep comfortably. Igbo men take care of women. They have money,” Portable said.
The controversy erupted after Darlington’s initial video, in which he described an encounter with a 15-year-old virgin at a hotel, mentioning bloodied sheets and paying hotel staff ₦2,000 to replace them. The confession, made in Igbo, sparked widespread outrage, with many condemning it as rape and demanding legal action.
Darlington later claimed the confession was a publicity stunt to promote a new song, calling it a “prank” meant to generate attention. He further stirred anger by saying if he had known the age 15 would cause uproar, he would have said 12 instead. He also questioned whether the backlash would have been the same if the incident had occurred in Northern Nigeria, citing cultural differences in marriage customs.
Authorities have taken action. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) condemned the act and referred the matter to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) due to jurisdictional limits, as the location of the incident was not specified.
NAPTIP has summoned Darlington for questioning at their Abuja office on May 30.