By News Desk
Abuja
ABUJA — Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North, has intensified his public plea for his estranged wife, Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, to enter rehabilitation for alleged drug addiction, framing it as a life-saving measure for her and their two young children.
In an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, the 64-year-old lawmaker presented toxicology reports showing elevated levels of multiple substances in Daniels’ system, linking them to her recent “violent and destructive” episodes, recurrent health crises, and a personality shift from calm to erratic. Nwoko recounted rushing her unconscious to Nizamiye Hospital three times over the past eight months due to suspected overdoses, emphasizing, “I want her alive and healthy, not just for me, but for our children. Many people have died of drug overdose—what will I tell her children tomorrow?”
He accused Daniels’ siblings—particularly her brother Samuel “Sammy West” Ojeogwu—and friends of supplying the drugs and sabotaging recovery efforts by smuggling substances during treatment attempts. “Her close relations and friends that I trusted are exploiting her resources to keep her addicted,” Nwoko said, dismissing social media denials from Daniels’ mother, Rita Daniels, as “baseless distractions” rooted in denial. To counter skepticism, he offered to fund independent toxicology tests by any expert of their choosing, even abroad: “If her mother wants to prove me wrong, let them arrange it—I will pay.”
The senator also refuted Rita Daniels’ recent Instagram claim that Nwoko’s son died of a drug overdose in the UK, calling it an “inhuman attack” unsupported by autopsy findings. He portrayed himself as a protector fighting for Daniels’ sobriety to ensure she raises their sons in a “sane and healthy environment.”
Daniels, 25, fired back on Instagram Sunday morning, admitting to past drug use but branding Nwoko’s narrative “exaggerated, manipulative, and designed to tarnish my image.” She alleged he encouraged her habit, quoting him as saying she was “sexier” when high, and accused him of sexual assault, confinement, and forcing sedatives on her for bipolar disorder whenever she challenged him. “You seize my phones for weeks because you hate that I talk to my family,” she wrote, claiming isolation tactics to force reconciliation. Daniels further asserted no legal marriage existed—”We were never married in any court of law”—and that her “prime years” and career sacrifices outweighed his financial support. “Leave me alone, Ned. Marriage is not by force. Love is not by force.”
The feud, which erupted publicly on October 18 with a viral video of Daniels tearfully alleging domestic violence in their Abuja home, has spiraled into a spectacle of competing videos and posts. Nwoko has shared footage purportedly showing Sammy West harassing his staff and children, while labeling actress Uche Montana as another supplier. Daniels, in turn, claimed Nwoko targeted her family, citing Sammy’s recent arrest and remand—initially for alleged threats but now tied to drug supply accusations—and police invitations to Rita. She briefly surrendered, tearfully vowing to return home post-arrest on November 7, but has since doubled down on independence, flaunting a new family mansion in Lagos as a symbol of self-reliance.
Daniels dropped a bombshell by claiming she was 17—not the reported 18—when they wed in 2019, igniting debates on consent and power imbalances in their 40-year age-gap union. Activist Omoyele Sowore amplified this on X, urging UK authorities to probe Nwoko—a registered solicitor—for potential statutory rape and abuse of power. Public reaction has fractured: Supporters rally behind Daniels with #JusticeForRegina petitions surpassing 30,000 signatures, while others, like activist VeryDarkMan, back Nwoko’s drug claims based on her videos. Lawyers, including one analyzing Nwoko’s videos, have faulted him for failing to set boundaries and called for Sammy’s release.
Nwoko, who has six wives and denies violence across all marriages, has spent millions aiding Daniels’ family—₦125 million to Rita alone—yet insists the crisis stems solely from addiction, not abuse. Daniels counters that drugs entered her life post-marriage, tying it to marital trauma.
As the spat dominates Nigerian media and X—trending with hashtags like #RegNedSaga and #JusticeForNed—the couple’s children remain caught in the crossfire. No formal divorce proceedings have been filed, but observers warn the public airing risks irreparable harm. Police have yet to comment on the latest claims, leaving the saga unresolved amid calls for mediation or intervention.
