Precious Nwonu, Enugu

The camp of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has denied that he was arrested by the police, challenging the state government to provide evidence supporting the warrant it allegedly cited.

Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, described reports of the former governor’s arrest as false, insisting that he was neither arrested nor granted bail.

The Nigeria Police Force, however, confirmed that Okorocha was arrested on Monday night at REIZ Continental Hotel in Abuja over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. The police said he was released on bail after about an hour of interrogation and directed to return to the Force Headquarters for further questioning.

In a statement titled “Arrest Warrant: We’ve Been Vindicated. Falsehood Has Never Prevailed Over Truth. Truth Is Sacred,” Onwuemeodo questioned the validity of the court order the Imo State Government relied on in defending the reported arrest.

The government, through its Commissioner for Information, Mbadiwe Emelumba, had issued a statement on Monday, October 12, in response to Okorocha’s demand that it produce the court order.

According to Onwuemeodo, the government attached an order dated September 9, 2026, but failed to acknowledge that the same court had vacated it five days later.

He argued that the order could not have provided a valid basis for any action against the former governor in October.

“The same court order was vacated by the same court on September 14, 2026,” he said, questioning why the state government continued to rely on it.

Onwuemeodo also said Emelumba had clarified that the order was unrelated to petitions submitted on October 8 by the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako.

The former governor’s aide demanded an apology from the state government, accusing it of misleading Nigerians and damaging the state’s image.

He also challenged the police to substantiate their account of the arrest, maintaining that no arrest, bail or statement-taking had occurred.

“Their latest story that Owelle Okorocha was arrested and released after one hour is also not true. And we equally stand to be contradicted,” he said.

The police, however, maintained that Okorocha was arrested over the allegations and that investigations were continuing. The full details of the allegations have not been publicly disclosed.

The police reportedly invited the former governor for questioning on September 2, before rescheduling the appointment to September 8 at the request of his lawyers. He was said to have failed to honour the rescheduled invitation.

Onwuemeodo further accused the state government of making public statements capable of influencing a matter already before the courts. He said Okorocha had remained silent to avoid comments that could be considered an attempt to influence judicial proceedings.

The disagreement comes amid a political dispute between Okorocha and Governor Hope Uzodimma over the All Progressives Congress primary for the Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general election.

Uzodimma was declared the winner of the primary and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission. INEC said the official results showed that the governor secured 230,464 votes, while Okorocha polled 1,098.

However, another document circulated claiming that Okorocha won the primary with 150,780 votes. INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ibeziako, subsequently petitioned the police and the Department of State Services to investigate the disputed document, which the commission described as fictitious.

The allegations arising from the disputed results remain subject to investigation and do not, by themselves, establish criminal liability.

Okorocha has also filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, challenging the outcome of the primary and INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate.

Among other issues, the former governor has asked the court to examine the disputed results and relevant constitutional provisions concerning Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while serving as governor.

His camp maintains that the dispute should be resolved through the judicial process, while the police investigation into the allegations continues.