A fresh controversy has erupted in Nollywood and beyond as activist Omoyele Sowore accuses Senator Ned Nwoko of marrying actress Regina Da...
.webp "Sowore Drops Passport Proof: Did Ned Nwoko Marry Regina Daniels at 17")
A fresh controversy has erupted in Nollywood and beyond as activist Omoyele Sowore accuses Senator Ned Nwoko of marrying actress Regina Daniels while she was still a minor. According to Sowore, a passport he shared shows she was born in October 2001, making her 17 at the time of their 2019 wedding — a claim that directly contradicts Nwoko’s statement that she was 21. It’s the kind of explosive allegation that echoes previous Nigerian celebrity-age scandals — for example, the global uproar when Miley Cyrus revealed her early fame beginnings.
Drama is fast unfolding around one of Nigeria’s most high-profile couples — Nollywood actress Regina Daniels and politician/senator Ned Nwoko — after human rights activist Omoyele Sowore stepped into the fray with serious allegations. According to Sowore, documents now in his possession prove that Regina was underage when she married Nwoko in 2019.
The Claims
Sowore claims he has a copy of Regina’s international passport showing a date of birth of October 10, 2001 — meaning she was about 17 when she married in May 2019. He argues that this contradicts the voter’s card presented earlier by Nwoko, which shows her as born in October 1998, thus making her 21 at the time.
Further, he accuses Nwoko of manipulating the actress’s identity: name-change from “Regina Nneamaka Favour Ojeogwu” to “Regina Daniels”, procuring a questionable voter’s card, and using international travel as cover to hide the true age.
Perhaps most explosive: Sowore alleges that Nwoko introduced Regina to drugs to facilitate his control over her.
Nwoko’s Response
The senator has strongly denied any wrongdoing. He says that at their first meeting Regina told him she was 21 and produced an INEC voter’s card born October 10, 1998. He insists the marriage was lawful, public and consensual.
With that, Nwoko described the new allegations as false and misleading, warning that he would not allow his family’s reputation to be ruined. Why It Hits a Raw Nerve
In Nigeria, age at marriage is not just a personal detail—it touches legal, moral and cultural issues. When powerful figures like Nwoko are involved, the story becomes symbolic. Many remember similar controversies — for example the uproar when certain foreign celebrities faced under-age allegations, or local entertainers being questioned about documents. It pulses at Nigeria’s ongoing debates over consent, age gaps and power imbalance in marriages.
The case resonates especially with women and younger Nigerians who are sceptical of rich, famous men marrying much younger partners and hiding behind influence.
What Could Happen Next
With Sowore calling for “accountability” and suggesting legal action against Nwoko, this could escalate beyond tabloids. The questions now include: Will the authorities investigate document authenticity? Will Regina or Nwoko respond with full evidence? Will the public demand transparency?
As one social-media user put it:
“The question is—did Ned force this, or was it with full consent and family approval?”
These matters are now live in the court of public opinion.
The Broader Implications
Beyond the individuals, this case may trigger scrutiny of how marriages among affluent public figures are conducted in Nigeria. In another realm, when global stars like Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber married young, the world watched. Here in Nigeria, the added layers of politics, celebrity and law raise deeper questions: What protections exist for young women? How transparent should celebrities be? And when is marriage an issue of power rather than partnership?