THE arraignment of Ms. Anthonet Izuegbu, a friend of Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, was stalled on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja due to her failure to appear before the court.
Izuegbu, who is facing charges bordering on criminal defamation and the alleged procurement and administration of illegal substances, was absent when the case was called before Justice Ekerete Akpan. The court subsequently adjourned the matter to September 15, 2026.
The defendant, also known as “Ann,” had reportedly collapsed during her last court appearance, which necessitated the latest adjournment. Her absence again delayed the commencement of the trial.
Allegations Against the Defendant
According to court filings, Izuegbu was arrested over allegations of criminal defamation against Senator Ned Nwoko, husband of actress Regina Daniels. The prosecution claims she made damaging public statements against the lawmaker.
The Ned Nwoko media team, in a statement, said the arrest was not related to social media drama but to specific criminal allegations, describing online narratives around the arrest as “misleading and inflammatory.”
False Assault Allegations
The statement alleged that Izuegbu publicly accused Senator Nwoko of physically assaulting his wife, Mrs. Laila Nwoko, leading to a miscarriage. The media team dismissed the claim as “entirely false,” stating that no such incident occurred and no miscarriage was recorded.
The team further alleged that Izuegbu was implicated in procuring an illegal abortion for Regina Daniels during her marriage to Senator Nwoko. They maintained that the legality of the act remains unchanged regardless of attempts to alter the timeline of events.
Illegal Substances Allegations
In addition, the media team referenced a formal witness statement dated October 29, 2025, submitted to the Area Commander at Maitama Police Station. The statement reportedly detailed how Izuegbu allegedly “routinely sourced, handled, and administered controlled and illegal substances” to Regina Daniels and other associates.
Social Media Post Triggered Arrest
The team also said Izuegbu’s arrest followed a social media post in which she allegedly threatened, insulted, and repeated defamatory claims against Mrs. Laila Nwoko and the Senator. They described the post as “provocation, intimidation, and criminal defamation under applicable law.”
A Law Enforcement Matter
Concluding, the Nwoko media team stressed that the matter is a law enforcement case backed by evidence and witness testimonies.
“Any attempt to mischaracterise the arrest as suppression or victimisation is false and misleading,” the statement added.
The court is expected to resume hearing on September 15, 2026, with the defendant’s absence raising questions about when the trial will finally commence.
