Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, says legal proceedings are underway against social media influencer Timothy Gabriel over what he described as “defamatory and misleading” claims directed at him and his wife, Nollywood actress Regina Daniels.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Ned Nwoko Media Directorate and shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.
Nwoko said Gabriel, popularly known as Tuma, had persistently made damaging statements and even dared both him and his wife to respond, a challenge he said would now be met in court.
“No individual has the right to hurl baseless and vulgar accusations against another citizen and then hide behind social media antics or street protests to evade accountability,” the senator stated.
He described the influencer’s actions as “vile, reckless, and malicious,” accusing him of hiding behind activism and press freedom to peddle falsehood.
“We have taken full notice of the vile, reckless, and malicious statements made by one Timothy Gabriel, alias Tuma, and the accompanying attempts to dress lawless behavior in the garb of activism or press freedom,” he said.
According to Nwoko, the attacks were not only directed at him but also targeted Regina Daniels in a deliberate effort to incite the public and destroy their reputations.
“Gabriel not only spewed defamatory lies against Regina Daniels, my wife and accomplished actress, but also myself, and he did so repeatedly, with clear intent to provoke, incite, and destroy reputations,” he said.
He stressed that while free speech is protected, it does not give room for defamation or blackmail.
“There is no democracy anywhere in the world where freedom of speech includes freedom to defame, blackmail, or incite hatred under the guise of online influence,” he noted.
“The internet is not above the law. Those who think they can assassinate character and go unpunished are about to face the full weight of Nigeria’s legal system,” Nwoko warned.
The senator confirmed that his legal team, also representing Regina Daniels, is actively pursuing both civil and criminal charges against Gabriel.
“My legal team also representing Regina-Daniels Nwoko is already taking every step necessary to prosecute Gabriel and his enablers through every legal means available. This includes both criminal defamation and civil suits, for which the evidence is overwhelming,” he added.
Nwoko condemned the influencer’s statements regarding paternity, morality, and alleged evidence as not just false but dangerous and criminal.
“His slanderous comments about paternity, morality, and fictitious personal ‘evidence’ are not only damaging, they are false, dangerous, and criminally prosecutable,” he said.
He also had a word of caution for those supporting Gabriel in the name of activism.
“Mr Gabriel and any co-conspirators should prepare to face the law in the most decisive manner. The real trouble has only just begun and it will not be fought on social media, but in court, through the strength of evidence and the rule of law,” Nwoko warned.
“Let the public be assured; defamation is not activism, and I will ensure that the lines are drawn clearly in the courtroom,” he concluded.
