Former Imo State Governor and Senator, Rochas Okorocha, has reportedly been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
The former governor was reportedly apprehended on Monday night at REIZ Continental Hotel in central Abuja, following an ongoing criminal investigation, according to media reports.
The reported arrest comes amid claims that Okorocha failed to honour repeated police invitations, prompting the issuance of a bench warrant for his apprehension.
Reports indicated that he was initially invited to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on September 2, 2026. The appointment was subsequently rescheduled to September 8 at the request of his lawyers, but he allegedly failed to appear on the revised date.
However, Okorocha had earlier denied reports that a court had issued an order for his arrest over the allegations.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, the former governor reportedly accused the Imo State Government of promoting what he described as false information about the purported arrest warrant.
Okorocha also threatened legal action against those responsible for the reports, demanding that they produce the alleged court order within 48 hours or retract the claims.
The controversy follows earlier reports that a Senior Magistrates Court sitting in Jiwa, Abuja, issued bench warrants dated September 9, 2026, against Okorocha and former Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.
Two other individuals, Timothy Ama Chuks and Amen Okorocha, were also reportedly named in the warrants over alleged involvement in disputed All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election documents.
The warrants, reportedly issued by Senior Magistrate Court 3, Jiwa, Abuja, in cases numbered CR/M/JW/084/2026 and CR/M/JW/085/2026, authorised police officers to apprehend the individuals and bring them before the court.
The reported arrest marks a new development in the legal controversy surrounding the allegations against the former governor. However, the claims remain allegations, and the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest and the relevant court proceedings require confirmation from the appropriate authorities.
