A popular Nigerian entertainer and musician, Darlington Achakpo popularly known as Speed Darlington has dragged the National Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Persons before the Federal high court demanding N3bn as damages
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1354/ 2025 and filed on , The 9th of July, 2025 through a consortium of female Attorneys, the entertainer is seeking damages in the sum of three billion naira against NAPTIP for unlawfully declaring him wanted.
He is also seeking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining NAPTIP whether by itself its agents,servants, officers, privies, operatives, and any agent of the organisation acting on its instructions or anyone acting into any manner whosoever from enforcing executing or carrying into effect the directive and or instruction in the Respondents publication of 27th June, 2025.
He said the unlawful wanted notice was subsequently published and circulated in many Newspapers in both print and online edition with the title WANTED BY NAPTIP Wherein the Applicant was declared wanted by publishing his photograph and name.
Darlington is seeking a declarative order that the said publication without any prior order or leave of a Court to that effect is unlawful, illegal, wrongful, ultra vires, unconstitutional .
That it constitutes a flagrant violation of his Fundamental rights to personal liberty, private and family life, freedom of movement and right not to be subjected to inhuman treatment and degrading treatment as guaranteed under Section 34, 37, 41 and 46 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended) and Articles 2, 3(1) & (2), 4, 5, 6, 7, and12 (1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004.
Darlington further prayed for an order of the court to quash NAPTIP’s notice declaring him wanted, as provided for in Order X of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules. 2009.
He also prayed for an order directing the Respondents to tender a formal written apology for the flagrant violation of his fundamental rights.
In a 13 paragraphs affidavit in support of the suit, Darlington said as an entertainer, musician and social media personality, he often makes and post on social media videos and contents of music and sometimes contents for entertainment purposes.
That sometimes in May, 2025, he made a video for entertainment purposes in a bid to promote his forthcoming musical video.
That to his utmost chagrin and consternation, on 28th May, 2025, he received a letter from the respondent via his Instagram handle seeking clarifications on the said video/content.
That in a detailed correspondence of 2nd June, 2025, he clarified that, as a law- abiding citizen and a man raised by martinet parents under the highest ethical and moral standard, (he) have never engaged in or contemplated involving (himself) in any form of sexual predation, sexual violation or any form of untoward act against the opposite sex.
He further clarified that, for the sake of clarity, (he)reiterate that the said Instagram video was made for purely entertainment purpose only and does not reflect any previous or future event involving (his) person with any female; minor or major. Sadly, what was meant to be a joke has been blown out of proportion by persons looking for fault where none exists. A copy of the correspondence is attached as EXHIBIT NAPTIP 1.
That in an appalling move, the Respondents however declared (him ) the Applicant WANTED with the caption WANTED BY NAPTIP via publications made by the Respondents on all its social media handles and by pasting on or about the 27th day of June, 2025 and subsequent publications and circulation in many Newspapers in both Print and electronic Edition without any prior order or leave of a Court of competent jurisdiction to that effect. A copy of the publication is attached as EXHIBIT NAPTIP 2.
That unless this honourable intervenes urgently in this matter, the fundamental rights of the Applicant will be seriously violated and infringed upon.