The police command in Cross River says its operatives have arrested Okoi Obono-Obla, a former presidential adviser, over allegations of forgery and obtaining entry into the legal profession by false pretence.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, Eitokpah Sunday, disclosed that Obono-Obla was “lawfully arrested” at about Abuja Park in Ugep, Cross River State.
According to Sunday, the arrest followed a petition submitted to the state commissioner of police concerning claims of “forgery and obtaining admission or professional qualification/entry into the legal profession by false pretence”.
The police also refuted reports suggesting that the former presidential aide had been abducted by unidentified security operatives.
“The arrest was effected in accordance with extant laws and in the exercise of the constitutional and statutory powers of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate allegations of criminal conduct,” the statement reads.
After his arrest, Obono-Obla was taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Calabar, where investigations are ongoing. The police noted that his lawyer has been informed and is actively involved in the process, while his family members are aware of his whereabouts.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Command categorically states that allegations of kidnapping or involvement of unidentified security outfits are false, unfounded, and entirely without factual basis.”
In 2016, former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Obono-Obla as special assistant to the president (prosecution) at the federal ministry of justice. He later headed the special presidential investigation panel for the recovery of public property (SPIP).
In August 2019, Buhari suspended him as chairman of the panel following an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged record falsification and financial misconduct.
The ICPC declared him wanted in October 2019 over “repeated failure to appear before it to answer questions bordering on allegations of fraud and corruption”.
He was arrested by the commission in March 2020 and subsequently rearraigned in March 2021 over an alleged N10.1 million fraud. In October 2021, he was again rearraigned on charges linked to alleged falsification and forgery of academic results.
The ICPC had alleged that he forged O’Level results to gain admission to study law during the 1985/86 academic session at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).