...Say “freedom of speech isn’t freedom to lie”
By Austin Oyibode
Senator Ned Munir Nwoko and his wife, Nollywood star Regina Daniels, have dragged social media personality Timothy Gabriel, popularly known as “Tuma,” to court over what they described as a calculated campaign of defamation and incitement.
In a statement released on Saturday through the senator’s media directorate, the couple announced the commencement of both civil and criminal legal proceedings against Gabriel for allegedly spreading “vile, reckless, and malicious” allegations, particularly aimed at tarnishing Regina Daniels’ image.
According to the statement, Gabriel has been peddling falsehoods under the guise of activism and online influence, crossing legal and moral boundaries with repeated attacks on the senator and his wife.
“There is no democracy where freedom of speech means freedom to defame or incite hatred,” the statement emphasised. “The internet is not a lawless zone.”
The legal action follows Gabriel’s open dare to the couple to take him to court—a challenge they have now accepted.
The Nwokos’ legal team is pursuing both damages and prosecution, citing the “dangerous and criminally liable nature” of the allegations made by Gabriel.
They clarified that the case will be fought in court, not on social media. “We will present overwhelming evidence. This is not about trends, it’s about justice,” the statement declared.
To those defending Gabriel in the name of free speech, the couple issued a stern reminder: “Freedom of expression is not a license to destroy reputations with lies.”
They concluded by reaffirming their commitment to legal redress, stating: “Defamation is not activism—and we intend to make that distinction clear in court.”
