Controversial rapper Speed Darlington has filed a ₦3 billion lawsuit against the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), accusing the agency of violating his fundamental human rights.
The lawsuit, lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja, stems from NAPTIP’s June 27 declaration of the artist as “wanted” over allegations of rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking. The agency claimed Speed Darlington failed to honour an invitation for questioning after he publicly stated—later retracting—that he had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl, a statement he later described as fictional.
Speed Darlington’s legal team argues that the declaration was unconstitutional, insisting that no court order was obtained before the announcement. The suit describes the agency’s actions as “unlawful, illegal, wrongful, ultra vires, and unconstitutional,” claiming that they violate his rights to personal liberty, privacy, movement, and freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment.
He is demanding ₦1 billion in general damages and an additional ₦2 billion in punitive damages, alongside a 5% monthly interest until the full sum is paid. The rapper is also asking the court to order NAPTIP to publicly apologise and to permanently bar the agency and its affiliates from acting on the wanted notice.
As of now, NAPTIP has not issued a formal response to the legal action.
