The Nigerian lawmaker, Ned Nwoko has clarified the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Ann Izuegbu Anthonet, the close friend of his estranged wife, Regina Daniels.
The arrest has triggered a public dispute, with the Nollywood actress questioning its legality, while Nwoko’s camp maintains that the action is based on serious criminal allegations.
On January 14, Daniels took to social media to challenge the arrest, alleging inconsistencies in the accusations, which she said shifted from drug-related claims to theft.
However, in a statement released on Instagram, Nwoko’s communication team rejected Daniels’ version, describing it as “false, reckless, and deliberately intended to distort the facts”.
According to the statement, Ann was arrested over claims she publicly made alleging that Nwoko physically assaulted his wife, Laila Nwoko, leading to a miscarriage.
Nwoko’s team insisted the allegation was “entirely false” and part of what they described as a coordinated attempt to reinforce unsubstantiated domestic violence narratives.
They further accused Ann of involvement in “procuring an illegal abortion” for Daniels during her marriage to Nwoko, alleging that she made Daniels “swallow a bunch of weed that left her bleeding for weeks” and resulted in the loss of his unborn child.
“Following the arrest of Ms. Izuegbu Anthonet (commonly known as Ann), a number of misleading and inflammatory narratives have been circulated across social media platforms. These claims are false, reckless, and deliberately intended to distort the facts surrounding her arrest,” the statement said.
“For clarity and in the public interest, the following points set out the factual basis of the matter.
“Criminal Defamation: Ms. Izuegbu Anthonet was arrested in connection with criminally defamatory statements she publicly made, alleging that Senator Ned Munir Nwoko physically assaulted his wife, Mrs. Laila Nwoko, resulting in a miscarriage. These claims are entirely false. No such incident occurred, and no miscarriage resulted from any alleged violence. The statements were made without evidence and form part of a coordinated attempt to reinforce previously circulated and unsubstantiated domestic violence allegations.”
The statement also addressed allegations of an illegal abortion, stating:
“Procurement of an Illegal Abortion: Ms. Izuegbu Anthonet is also implicated in the procurement of an illegal abortion for Regina Daniels during her lawful marriage to Senator Ned Munir Nwoko.
“This incident occurred after the marriage, notwithstanding subsequent attempts to reframe the timeline. The legality of the act does not change based on narrative adjustments. The matter is on record and has previously been publicly referenced by Regina herself.
“Essentially Ann killed Senator Ned Nwoko’s unborn child. The circumstances of the illegal abortion was gruesome. Ann caused Regina to swallow a bunch of weed that left her bleeding for weeks.”
Nwoko’s team further alleged Ann’s involvement in the “use and distribution of illegal substances,” noting that a formal witness statement had been submitted to the Maitama Police Station in October 2025.
They added that her arrest followed a recent social media post described as threatening and defamatory toward the Nwoko family.
“Formal Witness Statement and Ongoing Investigation: A formal witness statement dated 29 October 2025, submitted to the Area Commander, Maitama Police Station, details repeated and ongoing activities involving Ms. Izuegbu Anthonet and others,” the statement added.
“The statement noted that Ms. Izuegbu Anthonet routinely sourced, handled, and administered controlled and illegal substances to Regina and associated individuals.
“It further indicates the existence of identifiable suppliers, corroborative observations, and supporting details already made available to law enforcement authorities. These matters are presently under investigation by the appropriate agencies.
“Ms. Izuegbu Anthonet’s arrest was directly preceded by a public social media post in which she issued threats, made derogatory remarks, and repeated defamatory accusations against Mrs. Laila Nwoko and Senator Ned Munir Nwoko.
“This post constituted provocation, intimidation, and criminal defamation under applicable law. It is important to emphasise that this matter is not a social media dispute but a law-enforcement issue grounded in evidence, witness testimonies, and due process.
“Any attempt to mischaracterise the arrest as suppression or victimisation is false and misleading.
“The Senator and his family will continue to respect the ongoing investigation and will not engage in trial by social media. We urge the public to rely on verified facts and allow the law to take its full course.”
In a related development, Daniels recently disclosed that a warrant had been issued for her and some family members over allegations of stealing $40,000 from Nwoko’s residence.
The couple’s private dispute became public in October after a viral video showed Daniels in tears while alleging domestic violence. Nwoko responded by claiming the actress was battling drug and alcohol addiction.
Daniels later acknowledged using hard drugs but accused Nwoko of facilitating her addiction as a means of control and manipulation.