(PHOTO): Ex-APC Governor Reportedly Arrested in Abuja Over Alleged Forgery

Former Imo State Governor and Senator, Rochas Okorocha, was reportedly arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday night at REIZ Continental Hotel in central Abuja over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

According to The Sun, the reported arrest followed his alleged failure to honour police invitations in connection with an ongoing investigation, which reportedly led to the issuance of a bench warrant.

Reports indicated that Okorocha was initially invited to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on September 2, 2026, but the appointment was rescheduled to September 8 at the request of his lawyers. He allegedly failed to appear on the rescheduled date.

However, the former governor had earlier denied reports that a court order had been issued for his arrest, describing the claims as false and misleading.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha accused the Imo State Government of promoting what he described as fake news.

He also threatened legal action against those behind the reports, demanding that they produce the purported court order within 48 hours or retract the claims.

Earlier reports indicated that a Senior Magistrate Court sitting in Jiwa, Abuja, had issued bench warrants dated September 9, 2026, against Okorocha and former Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, alongside two other individuals, Timothy Ama Chuks and Amen Okorocha.

The warrants, reportedly issued by Senior Magistrate Court 3, Jiwa, in cases CR/M/JW/084/2026 and CR/M/JW/085/2026, concerned allegations relating to disputed All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election documents.

According to the reported court documents, the proceedings were instituted in the name of the Inspector-General of Police, with the warrants authorising police officers to apprehend the named individuals and bring them before the court.

Okorocha also alleged that Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, a media aide to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, was among the first to circulate the report before it was amplified by other government aides and media organisations.

The circumstances surrounding the reported arrest, as well as Okorocha’s earlier denial of the existence of an arrest warrant, remain key aspects of the developing story.