Nigerian Senator Ned Nwoko has initiated legal proceedings against social media influencer Timothy Gabriel, also known as Tuma, over what he describes as defamatory and misleading claims made against him and his wife, actress Regina Daniels.
In a statement released by the Ned Nwoko Media Directorate on Saturday, the lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District said Gabriel’s actions were not only damaging but designed to provoke and incite public backlash through falsehoods.
“Gabriel not only spewed defamatory lies against Regina Daniels, my wife, an accomplished actress, but also against me, and he did so repeatedly, with clear intent to provoke, incite, and destroy reputations,” the statement read.
According to Nwoko, Gabriel had previously dared him to take legal action, a challenge he has now accepted. The senator emphasized that freedom of speech does not permit slander, blackmail, or inciting hatred under the guise of digital activism.
He further stated that his legal team—also representing Regina Daniels—is pursuing both criminal and civil suits against Gabriel and any alleged collaborators, citing overwhelming evidence.
“This includes both criminal defamation and civil suits,” Nwoko said, stressing that the influencer’s claims relating to paternity, morality, and fabricated personal evidence are not only false but potentially criminal.
Nwoko also warned those defending Gabriel’s actions in the name of activism or press freedom, noting that the internet is not a lawless space. “The real trouble has only just begun and it will not be fought on social media, but in court,” he added.
The senator concluded by reaffirming his intent to clarify the boundaries between free speech and defamation, vowing to pursue justice through legal channels.
