Nollywood actress and film producer Regina Daniels has raised alarm over the whereabouts of her younger brother, Sammy Daniels, who she claims has been arrested and held without access to his family or legal aid.
Her outcry comes in the middle of the growing controversy surrounding her marriage to billionaire businessman and senator, Ned Nwoko, following reports of domestic disputes and a possible separation.
Taking to her verified Instagram page on Wednesday, the actress expressed deep frustration, calling on Nigerian law enforcement authorities to disclose where her brother was being held.
“Finally, some people now have a video that can make them think they can mock me, chai! But it’s okay. My entire focus right now is to know the whereabouts of my brother. WHERE IS SAMMY NED!!!” she wrote.
Regina, who appeared emotional in her posts, accused powerful individuals of using their influence to suppress justice and keep her brother in detention.
The latest development follows a week of public drama between Regina Daniels and her husband, Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North in the National Assembly.
The couple, who got married in 2019, have two children together and were once celebrated as one of Nollywood’s most glamorous unions. However, their relationship has been under scrutiny following recent reports that the actress had accused the senator of domestic violence and filed for divorce.
Sources close to the couple revealed that tension had been building in their home for months before it finally became public last week when Regina allegedly moved out of their Abuja residence.
Her brother, Sammy Daniels, popularly known as Sammy West, is believed to have been supporting her during the crisis. Reports surfaced on social media over the weekend that he was arrested in Lagos by individuals allegedly linked to the senator and flown to Abuja.
Since then, his family claims they have been unable to reach him, while neither the Nigeria Police Force nor Senator Nwoko’s representatives have issued any public statement confirming or denying the arrest.
In her Wednesday post, Regina expressed disappointment with what she described as the “inaction” of top police officials, claiming that even senior officers had told her that their “hands were tied.”
“Imagine one of the highest authorities in the police force, or if not the highest, saying his hands are tied! Like, ogini bu ihe!” she wrote, using an Igbo phrase meaning “What kind of thing is this?”
The actress vowed not to be intimidated, declaring that the situation had now become “a fight of strength and willpower.”
“Now this fight is going to be power for power, or rather aura for aura. It’s such a pity. #FreeSammy. For the record, I don’t regret anything. Na only I carry my leg, but this was a route I was meant to take, not my final destination,” she stated.
Her post has since gone viral, sparking a wave of sympathy and outrage across social media, with many Nigerians demanding that the police explain the circumstances surrounding Sammy’s alleged detention.
Several Nollywood stars and fans have rallied around Regina since her post. Actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie, who is widely regarded as Regina’s mentor and godmother, had earlier condemned the alleged arrest, describing it as “the worst form of injustice.”
“The worst form of injustice is pretended justice. A child was arrested, no one has been allowed to see him for two days. He was flown from Lagos to Abuja and is allegedly being taken to court from the airport. How did we get here?” Mercy Johnson wrote earlier in the week.
Her statement drew widespread reactions from the entertainment industry, with many calling for transparency and accusing the authorities of double standards.
On X (formerly Twitter), users shared the hashtag #FreeSammy, urging the government to intervene. One user wrote, “No one should be above the law, not even a senator. If Sammy has been arrested, let the world know why and where he is.”
Human rights advocates have also joined the conversation, warning that the reported detention of Regina’s brother without legal access violates his fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
A Lagos-based lawyer, Barrister Chinedu Ojeh, said that any arrest without formal charge or access to legal representation would amount to unlawful detention.
“Even if he was arrested for any reason related to his sister’s domestic issue, the law is clear — he has the right to know the charges against him, to communicate with his family, and to have legal counsel,” Ojeh said.
The ongoing saga has now evolved beyond a family dispute into a national conversation about abuse of power, police accountability, and women’s rights.
While neither the Nwoko family nor the Nigerian Police Force has officially commented, pressure continues to mount for transparency.
As of press time, Regina Daniels’ management team has not released any further statement, and the actress herself has remained vocal on social media, maintaining that she will not stop until her brother’s safety and freedom are confirmed.
