The Nigeria Police Force in Cross River State has arrested former presidential aide, Okoi Obono-Obla, over allegations of forgery and obtaining entry into the legal profession by false pretence.

In a statement on Thursday, the Cross River Police Public Relations Officer, Eitokpah Sunday, said Obono-Obla was “lawfully arrested” around Abuja Park in Ugep town, as reported by Arise TV.

According to the statement, the arrest followed a petition submitted to the state Commissioner of Police alleging “forgery and obtaining admission or professional qualification/entry into the legal profession by false pretence.

“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 noted.

Sunday said the former presidential adviser was subsequently taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Calabar.

“Following his arrest, he was conveyed to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Calabar, where investigation is currently on-going.

“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 dismissed claims circulating in some quarters that Obono-Obla had been abducted by unidentified 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,” it stated.

Past corruption allegations:

In 2016, then-President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Obono-Obla as Special Assistant to the President (Prosecution) at the Federal Ministry of Justice. 

He later served as Chairman of 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 falsification of records and financial impropriety.

By October 2019, the ICPC declared him wanted over “repeated failure to appear before it to answer questions bordering on allegations of fraud and corruption”.

In March 2020, he was arrested by the anti-graft agency in Abuja and, in March 2021, re-arraigned over an alleged N10.1 million fraud.

In October 2021, the ICPC again re-arraigned him on charges bordering on alleged falsification and forgery of school results. 

“The commission accused him of forging O’Level results to study law during the 1985/86 academic session at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

Police say investigations into the latest allegations are on-going.