By Juliet Anine
Senator Ned Nwoko has said his estranged wife, actress Regina Daniels, must undergo drug rehabilitation before she can regain access to their two children, Munir and Khalifa.
Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, made this known in a statement released on Tuesday by his communications team, following emotional social media posts by Daniels about being separated from her children.
The statement, titled “Take the Window of Quietude for Therapy,” dismissed claims that the senator was deliberately keeping the children away from their mother or exploiting them online.
According to the statement, Daniels’ allegations were “misleading and inconsistent with long-established family practice,” noting that sharing family moments involving the children has always been normal within the family.
“The recent posts by Regina present a version of events that is both misleading and inconsistent with long-established family practice. Publicly sharing moments involving the children has never been new, unusual, or controversial within the family,” the statement said.
Nwoko also rejected claims that Daniels was denied access to the children, insisting that her absence had been by choice.
The statement said Daniels had prioritised social activities and nightlife over staying consistently with the children, who are currently being raised in what it described as a stable environment focused on routine, emotional balance and well-being.
“The suggestion that she has been prevented from being present in the children’s lives is equally misleading,” the statement added.
Nwoko further revealed that the matter is already before an Abuja court, which has issued clear directives on the issue of access to the children.
“The ruling was resolved in favour of Senator Ned Nwoko, with clear directions that Regina Daniels must undergo drug rehabilitation and be assessed by the Abuja Social Welfare Department before access can be restored to Munir (5) and Khalifa (3), the children of the marriage,” the statement said.
It added that the case has been adjourned to February 4, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Emphasising the need for the children’s safety and emotional health, Nwoko said access must come with responsibility.
“Children deserve a parent who is emotionally present, mentally sound, and sober most of the time. This is not an unreasonable expectation; it is the minimum standard of care any parent owes their children,” the statement read.
The senator’s response followed a post by Daniels on Monday, where she spoke about the pain of being away from her children and expressed hope of reuniting with them soon.
“I may be young, but I am such a mum, I enjoy being a mum and I miss being a mum. I will definitely see my kids soon!” she wrote.
Nwoko, however, urged her to comply fully with the court’s directives instead of taking the matter to social media.
He warned that repeated online posts risk “using the children as emotional shields to deflect from unresolved personal issues.”
“The most responsible and meaningful step remains compliance with the court-directed rehabilitation process and a demonstrated commitment to sustained personal wellness,” the statement added.
The senator concluded by calling for calm, saying, “It is our hope that this window of quietude will be used for healing and recovery, rather than generating another cycle of online attention.”
The dispute between the couple became public in October 2025 following allegations of substance abuse and domestic issues, which eventually led to the ongoing custody proceedings.
