Senator Ned Nwoko Fires Back at Omoyele Sowore Over TikToker's Arrest, Vows Justice Must Prevail [VIDEO]

 

Tensions flared once again in Nigeria’s political and social media landscape after Senator Ned Nwoko issued a scathing response to Omoyele Sowore, following the latter’s public criticism of the senator's legal action against TikTok user Timothy Gabriel, popularly known as Tuma. The altercation, which has ignited passionate reactions from online communities, centers around allegations made by Tuma against Nwoko’s wife, actress Regina Daniels.

Several months ago, Tuma released a controversial video where he made provocative claims concerning Regina Daniels, who is the sixth wife of the Delta North Senator. In the widely circulated video, Tuma alleged that Regina was engaged in an extramarital affair with a man in Abuja. He went further to suggest that he knew the hotel where Regina and her alleged lover would meet to carry out illicit activities. The most explosive part of his statement came when he claimed that the two children Regina has are not fathered by Nwoko.

Daring the couple to take legal action against him, Tuma appeared to invite confrontation. That invitation was accepted. Senator Nwoko and his wife reportedly filed a complaint with law enforcement authorities, and Tuma was subsequently arrested. A court granted a remand order, and he was placed in prison custody.

On Friday, June 20, Omoyele Sowore, known for his fiery activism and previous run for Nigeria’s presidency, took to social media to condemn Nwoko’s actions. Sowore accused the senator of leveraging his political influence to fraudulently obtain a remand order against the content creator. In his post, Sowore insisted that Tuma had committed no actual crime and argued that insulting a public figure’s wife, however distasteful, does not constitute grounds for imprisonment.

Sowore’s remarks immediately sparked a new round of public discourse, attracting both supporters and critics of his position. While some applauded his defense of free speech, others criticized him for downplaying the seriousness of making potentially defamatory claims against individuals without evidence.

Nwoko was quick to respond. In a strongly worded post shared on his verified social media account Saturday afternoon, the senator made it clear that he would not tolerate what he described as targeted harassment and cyberbullying of his family. He posted the same video Tuma had released, which formed the basis of the complaint, urging the public to judge for themselves the gravity of the allegations made.

He then directed his response squarely at Sowore, calling both the activist and the TikToker “busybodies and nonentities.” According to the senator, the issue is not about fame or wealth, but about accountability and the protection of one's family from malicious slander. He emphasized that the law must be allowed to take its full course, regardless of the personalities involved.

“Let it be known,” Nwoko wrote, “that one million cyberbullies will not stop Tuma from being prosecuted and punished as appropriate.”

The clash between Nwoko and Sowore reflects a broader societal debate in Nigeria about the limits of freedom of expression, particularly on digital platforms. Social media, which has become a powerful tool for citizen engagement, is also increasingly becoming a battleground where personal grievances, political rivalries, and legal disputes are played out in real time.

Legal experts remain divided on the issue. While some argue that statements like Tuma’s fall under protected speech unless proven to be defamatory in court, others believe that public figures, like anyone else, have the right to seek legal redress when they believe their reputation or that of their family is being attacked unjustly.

Meanwhile, advocacy groups have raised concerns about the potential for abuse of power, especially when influential figures use legal mechanisms that may not always be accessible to the average citizen. Sowore’s allegations about the “fraudulent” nature of the remand order echo those concerns and have reignited calls for judicial reforms that prioritize transparency and equal access to justice.

As the legal process unfolds, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on the outcome of the case. Whether Tuma is ultimately found guilty of defamation or cleared of wrongdoing, the incident has already stirred deep conversations about privacy, power, and accountability in the age of social media.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Senator Prince Ned Nwoko (@princenednwoko)