It started with a TikTok clip, barely two minutes long, but powerful enough to ripple through Nigeria’s social and political circles. A relatively unknown TikToker, simply identified as Tuma, accused billionaire senator Ned Nwoko of being duped by his wife Regina Daniels, alleging infidelity and paternity fraud.
The accusations were wild, messy.
Sowore Steps In: Defender of Free Speech or Political Opportunist?
Activist and presidential hopeful Omoyele Sowore weighed in quickly, condemning the swift arrest and remand of the TikToker. In his view, the state shouldn’t be used as a “tool to protect fragile egos,” especially not when it comes to online insults.
Sowore posted:
“Is it now a crime to insult someone on social media? Are we turning the state into a shrine for the worship of public figures?”
But this didn’t sit well with Ned.
Ned Fires Back: “Miscreants and Nonentities!”
Ned Nwoko didn’t hold back. In a post laced with fury, he labeled both the TikToker and Sowore as “miscreants” and “nonentities,” insisting that dragging a mother and wife—Regina Daniels—into baseless rumors is not free speech but a criminal act.
“This is not about fame or politics. It’s about dignity, decency, and the rule of law,” Ned wrote.
He vowed to pursue the matter to the “fullest extent,” and reminded the public that social media isn’t a lawless zone.
Regina’s Silence Speaks Loudly
While Regina Daniels has stayed silent throughout the unfolding drama, her presence is impossible to ignore. Whether it’s her curated Instagram posts or her loyalty to her husband, she’s become the centre of an online morality war she never publicly joined.
Many wonder: is she being protected, or silenced?
The Real Question: Is It Right to Insult People on Social Media?
Let’s be honest—social media has turned into a digital battleground. For every fact, there’s a conspiracy. For every fan, a troll. While free speech should be protected, is it right to recklessly accuse, mock, or insult public figures without evidence?
My opinion? Freedom of speech should never become a license for slander. We can’t allow insults to parade as activism. There’s a line between speaking truth to power and launching verbal grenades for views. Tuma crossed that line.
But here’s where it gets complicated: Should someone be imprisoned over it?
