The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has ordered all parties to maintain the status quo in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by actress Rita Daniels, her daughter Regina Daniels and other family members against Senator Ned Nwoko and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The case came up on Thursday before Justice Hamza Mu’azu, who issued the interim directive after noting that he is minded on hearing the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction brought by the applicants’ lead counsel, Chimezie Ogenna Nwodo.
In the suit, filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, Rita Daniels, Regina Daniels and ten others accuse the first respondent, Senator Nwoko, of using his political influence and the machinery of the Nigeria Police Force to harass, threaten and unlawfully arrest members of their family.
The applicants, who include Regina’s siblings, in-laws and family friend Doris Ogala, also allege that Nwoko threatened to have all of them detained unless Regina returned to him, following a series of domestic disputes between the estranged couple.
They seek two major reliefs from the court:
1. A declaration that threats of arrest and detention by Nwoko, allegedly executed through the IGP and police officers under his command, infringe on their constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.
2. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents or their agents from further threatening to arrest and detain or arresting and detaining any of the applicants.
In their statement of facts, the applicants allege that the relationship between Regina Daniels and Senator Nwoko had deteriorated, resulting in repeated incidents of domestic violence and intimidation.
They allege that on 18 October 2025, Nwoko ordered his security aides to beat Regina and her sister, Destiny, and forcibly eject them from his residence after a domestic disagreement.
A viral video of the incident widely circulated on social media, prompting public outcry.
The following day, Nwoko published a statement on X (formerly Twitter) titled “Regina’s Unprovoked Carnage and Rampage in My House and in My Absence”, accusing his wife of drug abuse and alcoholism.
In the aftermath, the applicants claim that the 1st Respondent used the police to harass the family, leading to the arrest and five-day detention of Regina’s brother, Samuel Ojeogwu, who they say was denied access to counsel before being arraigned on charges of conspiracy, intimidation, theft, cyberbullying, and assault.
The applicants argue that they pose no threat, have committed no crime and have been targeted solely for supporting Regina during her marital crisis.
They express fear for their safety and ask the court to intervene before their rights to liberty, movement and possibly life are further endangered.
After listening to counsel for the applicants during Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Mu’azu suo motu (on the court’s own initiative) abridged the time for hearing the motion on notice.
He also ordered all parties, Nwoko, the IGP and the applicants, to maintain the status quo, effectively halting any arrests or further police action until the motion on notice is heard and determined.
The court then adjourned the matter to Wednesday, 19 November 2025, for hearing of the motion on notice.
