In a dramatic escalation of a high-profile marital dispute that’s captivated Nigerian social media, Senator Ned Nwoko on Saturday accused his actress wife, Regina Daniels, of battling severe drug and alcohol addiction, framing it as the core issue behind their unraveling relationship.
The 64-year-old Delta North lawmaker, a billionaire businessman and one of Nigeria’s most prominent polygamists, issued the pointed statement amid swirling allegations of domestic violence leveled by Regina Daniels just a day earlier. Nwoko, who has six wives, insisted that Daniels’ substance abuse — not any aggression on his part — has fueled the chaos, including recent violent outbursts at their family home.
“Regina was not always like this,” Nwoko said in the statement, obtained by NOLLYWOOD LIFE. “Her current battle with drugs and alcohol abuse is the root of our problem. She must continue her rehabilitation program, or I fear for her life and safety.”
The senator’s remarks come after a tearful video of Daniels, 25, went viral on Friday, showing her in apparent distress outside their residence. In the clip, widely shared on X (formerly Twitter), Daniels lamented her diminished status in Nwoko’s polygamous household, saying, “In Ned Nwoko’s house, I’m nothing, but in my house, I’m a queen.” She alleged that her husband had sent “thugs” to assault her, a claim echoed by her brother, Sammy West, who accused Nwoko of personally beating Daniels and smashing her head against a wall. West further claimed Nwoko dispatched intimidators to their family property, prompting an outpouring of support from fans and Nollywood colleagues, including actress Angela Okorie, who weighed in on the controversy.
Nwoko categorically denied any history of violence toward Daniels or his other spouses, portraying her instead as the aggressor in recent incidents. “I have other wives, and none will ever accuse me of violence,” he stated. “Regina is the violent one here, slapping and hitting three staff in the past 48 hours and destroying property, including cars and windows, for no just cause.”
He detailed a particularly harrowing episode involving their young son, referred to as “Moon,” whom Daniels allegedly refused to take to the hospital despite clear medical needs. “A clear-headed Regina would have taken Moon to the hospital, but instead she even threatened to kill our resident nurse (for exposing her drug abuse),” Ned Nwoko recounted. While he personally ensured the child received care, he claimed, “a scene of chaos unfolded at home, orchestrated by Sammy,” whom he identified as Daniels’ brother and “main drug supplier.”
In a stark accusation, Ned Nwoko named another alleged enabler: “Another known supplier of drugs to Regina is the tiny evil devil called Ann.” He expressed deep concern over Daniels’ recent decision to relocate to an unspecified location, warning it would grant her “unrestricted access to drugs.”
The senator outlined his proposed solution: supervised rehabilitation, either at a facility in Asokoro, Abuja, or abroad in Jordan, where access to substances would be limited. “I have set a clear condition for her to accept rehab in Asokoro or outside Nigeria, especially Jordan where she will not have access to drugs,” he said.
The couple’s union, which began in 2019 when Daniels was 19 and Nwoko was 59, has long drawn scrutiny for its significant age gap and Nwoko’s polygamous lifestyle. They share two young sons, and Daniels has previously defended the marriage publicly, often sharing glimpses of family life on social media. However, reports emerged Saturday that she has moved out of their shared home following a heated disagreement, further fueling speculation about an impending separation.
This is a developing story, check back later for full details.
