Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has accused the Imo State Government of orchestrating a political witch-hunt against him, while firmly denying police claims that he was arrested in Abuja and subsequently released on bail.
Okorocha, through a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, maintained that he was neither arrested nor detained by the police, insisting that no bail was granted to him.
His position contradicts an account given by the Nigeria Police Force, which said the former governor was arrested at Reiz Continental Hotel in Abuja on Monday night over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
Police spokesperson Aniete Iniedu reportedly told Channels Television that Okorocha was released on bail after about an hour of interrogation.
The controversy emerged days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) petitioned the Department of State Services and the police over a document circulating on social media that purportedly listed Okorocha as the winner of the All Progressives Congress primary election for Imo West senatorial district.
In his response, the former governor described the police account of his alleged arrest as false and challenged those making the claims to provide evidence.
In a statement titled “We’ve Been Vindicated. Falsehood Has Never Prevailed Over Truth. Truth Is Sacred,” Okorocha insisted that he had not been arrested, granted bail or made any statement to the police.
He also questioned the legal basis for the reported police action, arguing that the court order allegedly relied upon in connection with the matter had already been vacated.
According to Okorocha, the order was issued on September 9, 2026, but was vacated by the same court on September 14, 2026.
He argued that the order could not legitimately serve as the basis for any action against him in October, having been set aside weeks earlier.
The former governor further accused unnamed political actors of attempting to mislead the public, maintaining that he had served Imo State to the best of his ability during his tenure from 2011 to 2019 and would continue to defend his record.
The conflicting accounts have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the reported incident and the legal issues connected to the disputed APC senatorial primary document.
As of the time of this report, Okorocha’s denial and the police account remain contradictory, with no independent confirmation provided in the available information to conclusively resolve the dispute.
