LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The family of Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has publicly appealed to her estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko, urging him to accept the return of her bride price amid rising tension and allegations of harassment.
The dispute between the actress and the billionaire politician has escalated into a public showdown after reports surfaced that Nwoko allegedly ordered the arrest of Regina’s siblings for refusing to send her back to him.
In a statement shared by filmmaker Stanley Ontop, Regina’s kinsmen from Delta State reaffirmed their traditional stance, stating that marriage cannot be forced.
According to them, once a woman chooses to leave, her family must return the bride price, which they say they have already done.
However, they claim Nwoko has refused to accept it, a move they argue violates local custom.
The group explained that under customary law, if a man declines the returned bride price, the family can legally deposit it at a recognized location to finalize the separation, a step they are prepared to take if the senator continues to ignore their gesture.
Beyond the marital disagreement, Regina’s family accused Nwoko of using his influence to intimidate them, describing recent arrests of her brothers as “oppressive and unbecoming of a respected elder.” They issued a 48-hour ultimatum for him to acknowledge the bride price and secure the release of all detained relatives.
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The family’s statement follows a wave of social media drama. Regina Daniels has unfollowed her husband on Instagram and deleted all photos and videos of him, sparking intense speculation that their marriage is crumbling.
Her brother Sweezy further inflamed the controversy with emotional posts accusing Nwoko of detaining their brother, Sammy West, without food or water since his arrest. He claimed Sammy’s release was allegedly made conditional on Regina returning to her husband.
“If anything happens to Sammy, hold Ned Nwoko responsible,” Sweezy wrote, sharing a petition link demanding accountability. The petition has already garnered over 1,200 signatures and continues to grow.
As of press time, Ned Nwoko has not publicly responded to the allegations.
With mounting family tensions, social media fallout, and growing public scrutiny, the Regina Daniels–Ned Nwoko saga has shifted from a private marital rift to one of Nollywood’s most talked-about controversies, signaling a collision of love, power, and tradition unfolding before the world.
