Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North, has denied claims by his estranged wife, Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, that he married her at the age of 17.
He described the allegations as “false, misleading, and malicious,” insisting that she was 21 at the time of their marriage.
In a statement shared on his social media pages on Thursday, Nwoko said the reports were part of a coordinated effort to tarnish his image amid their ongoing marital crisis.
“It has come to my attention that false claims are being circulated by Regina, suggesting that I married her when she was 17 years old. These claims are entirely untrue and misleading,” the senator wrote.
According to Nwoko, when he first met Regina, she told him she was 21 years old and presented her Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter’s card to support her claim. He said the document showed her date of birth as October 10, 1998.
“For clarity, during my first meeting with Regina, I asked her age, and she told me she was 21 years old.
I further asked if she had any document to support this, and she presented her INEC voter’s card, which clearly shows that she was born on October 10th, 1998. I informed her that I would keep this document in my possession, and I have done so since that day,” Nwoko stated.
He added that their marriage took place six years ago, stressing that, by all verifiable records, Regina is now 27 years old.
“According to all verifiable records, our marriage took place six years ago, which means Regina is 27 years old today. Any suggestion that I married her at 17 is false and should not be accepted by the public,” he said.
The lawmaker also alleged that Regina’s recent statements were influenced by what he described as a “mental health condition,” claiming she had started but failed to complete a rehabilitation program for drug addiction.
“The facts are verifiable and indisputable. Until this is done, I urge the public to approach all her claims with caution and discernment, especially taking into account her current mental condition having started and abandoned her rehabilitation from illegal drug addiction,” he added.
Nwoko’s response follows days of escalating public exchanges between him and the actress. The controversy began after Regina Daniels admitted to using illicit substances, alleging that her estranged husband introduced her to drugs for his sexual satisfaction.
Nwoko denied the accusation, stating instead that Regina’s brother, Sammy Daniels, was responsible for introducing her to drugs and sabotaging all efforts to rehabilitate her.
The couple’s marital dispute has played out publicly over recent weeks, with claims of domestic violence and substance abuse dominating social media discussions.
Nwoko has consistently denied all allegations of physical abuse, attributing Regina’s behaviour to what he called her ongoing “battle with substance abuse.”
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