Court Fixes Date To Rule On Bail Application Of TikToker ‘Tumma’ Charged With Defaming Regina Daniels, Ned Nwoko’s Wife

The Federal High Court in Abuja has set July 25, 2025, to deliver its ruling on the bail application of TikTok personality Gabriel Timothy, popularly known as “Tumma,” who is facing charges of alleged defamation, cyberstalking, and injurious falsehood against the wife of politician Senator Ned Nwoko. Nwoko represents the Delta North district in the Nigerian Senate. At the previous court session, Gabriel was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment before Justice Yilwa H. Joseph, who adjourned the trial to October 8, 2025. During the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Justice Yilwa H. Joseph announced that the court would deliver a ruling on the bail motion filed by the defence counsel, S.M. Oyeghe. In his submission, Oyeghe argued that the offences for which his client is charged are bailable and urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms. He cited Sections 156 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), as well as Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in support of the application. “We have an application, a motion on notice dated 23rd June 2025, but dated June 30, 2025. It is a motion on notice for the bail application for the defendant,” Oyeghe said. The motion contains a single prayer, seeking the court to admit the defendant to bail on liberal terms pending the hearing of the charges against him. It is supported by a four-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Gabriel Victor.” The prosecuting counsel, E.A. Enegbenosi, opposed the bail application, urging the court to deny the request by the defence. He argued that the defendant had failed to provide sufficient grounds for the court to exercise its discretion in granting bail. After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Yilwa H. Joseph adjourned the matter to July 25, 2025, for ruling on the bail application. The police had earlier filed a two-count charge—numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/235/025—against the defendant, Timothy Gabriel, with the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, as the complainant. The charges allege cyberstalking and injurious falsehoods against Senator Ned Nwoko and his wife, Nollywood actress Regina Daniels. At the last hearing, Gabriel pleaded not guilty to the charges. Despite efforts by his lawyers to secure bail, the court ordered his remand in the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the trial to October 8, 2025, after observing that his bail application was not yet in the court file. According to SaharaReporters, it was gathered that after the charges were served on Gabriel on June 27, 2025, his legal team, led by Oyeghe and A.K. Musa, filed a motion for bail on June 30. However, during the proceedings, the court noted that the application was not in the file and declined to hear it, prompting the adjournment. Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Y.H. Joseph, ordered that the defendant, Gabriel Timothy, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to October 8, 2025, for trial. SaharaReporters had earlier reported on June 21 that Gabriel was initially remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State for allegedly insulting Regina Daniels, the wife of Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. His remand by a Magistrate Court sparked controversy, as his lawyer objected to the order, questioning the propriety of granting the request made by a police prosecutor reportedly acting on behalf of the Senator. In a statement issued the same day, Senator Nwoko, through his Media Directorate, announced plans to pursue legal action against Gabriel over what he described as defamatory and misleading remarks directed at him and his wife. The Senator alleged that Gabriel not only made unfounded and vulgar claims but also dared him and his wife to respond, effectively inviting legal consequences. Nwoko stated that the challenge had been accepted, emphasizing that no one should expect to escape accountability under the guise of social media activism or public protest after making such serious allegations. He stated: “We have taken full notice of the vile, reckless, and malicious statements made by one Timothy Gabriel, alias Tuma, and the accompanying attempts to dress lawless behaviour in the garb of activism or press freedom. “Gabriel not only spewed defamatory lies against Regina Daniels, my wife, an accomplished actress, but also me, and he did so repeatedly, with clear intent to provoke, incite, and destroy reputations. “There is no democracy anywhere in the world where freedom of speech includes freedom to defame, blackmail, or incite hatred under the guise of online influence. “The internet is not above the law. Those who think they can assassinate character and go unpunished are about to face the full weight of Nigeria’s legal system.” “My legal team also representing Regina-Daniels Nwoko is already taking every step necessary to prosecute Gabriel and his enablers through every legal means available,” he said.