Nigerian rapper Speed Darlington has taken legal action against the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), accusing the agency of breaching his fundamental rights and seeking ₦3 billion in compensation.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, comes in response to NAPTIP’s recent announcement declaring him wanted. The agency had made the declaration on June 27, alleging the artist had ignored a summons for questioning related to claims of rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking. This followed public uproar over a disturbing online video in which Darlington claimed to have had relations with a 15-year-old. He later backtracked, insisting the account was fictional and never intended to be taken as fact.
In his legal filing, Darlington argues that NAPTIP overstepped its authority by branding him a wanted man without first obtaining legal backing from a court. He described the move as unconstitutional and a direct assault on his basic freedoms, including his rights to liberty, privacy, freedom of movement, and protection against inhumane treatment.
He is demanding ₦1 billion in general damages and an additional ₦2 billion in punitive damages. On top of that, he wants interest payments calculated monthly at 5% until the full compensation is paid.
As part of his demands, the rapper is also asking the court to order NAPTIP to issue a public apology and to stop pursuing or enforcing the wanted notice now or in the future.
This legal challenge adds yet another twist to an already controversial saga, and the court’s eventual ruling could set a major precedent on how public declarations of criminal suspicion are handled in Nigeria.
Source: NewsandVibes.com
