The Nigeria Police Force in Cross River State has taken into custody former presidential aide, Okoi Obono-Obla, over allegations bordering on forgery and allegedly gaining entry into the legal profession under false pretences.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Eitokpah Sunday, confirmed that Obono-Obla was “lawfully arrested” at Abuja Park in Ugep town.
The police explained that the action followed a formal petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Cross River State. The petition accused him of “forgery and obtaining admission or professional qualification/entry into the legal profession by false pretence”.
Clarifying the legal basis for the arrest, the statement noted: “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 read.
According to Sunday, Obono-Obla was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Calabar for further inquiries.
“Following his arrest, he was conveyed to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Calabar, where investigation is currently ongoing.
“His legal counsel has been duly notified and is fully participating in the process. His relatives are also aware of his current location.”
The police spokesperson also addressed rumours circulating in some quarters suggesting that the former aide had been abducted by unknown security operatives.
“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.”
Past Corruption Allegations
Obono-Obla was appointed in 2016 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari as Special Assistant to the President (Prosecution) at the Federal Ministry of Justice. He later assumed the role of Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP).
In August 2019, President Buhari suspended him from his position as chairman of the panel following a probe by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into alleged falsification of records and financial misconduct.
By October 2019, the ICPC declared him wanted for “repeated failure to appear before it to answer questions bordering on allegations of fraud and corruption”.
He was eventually arrested by the anti-graft agency in Abuja in March 2020 and, a year later in March 2021, rearraigned over an alleged N10.1 million fraud.
In October 2021, the ICPC once again rearraigned him on charges relating to alleged falsification and forgery of academic credentials. The commission 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).
Meanwhile, the police have stated that investigations into the most recent allegations remain ongoing.
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