Former Imo State Governor and former Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, was arrested on Monday night, October 12, 2026, in Abuja by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
Okorocha was picked up at the REIZ Continental Hotel in central Abuja over an ongoing criminal investigation bordering on allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
*Police Confirm Arrest, Grant Bail*
Confirming the development to Channels Television, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, said Okorocha was arrested and subsequently released on bail after about an hour of interrogation.
He disclosed that the former governor has been directed to return to the Force Headquarters on Tuesday, October 13, for further questioning as investigations continue.
*Alleged Forgery Linked To APC Senatorial Primary*
At the centre of the investigation is a dispute over documents purportedly connected to the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Imo West, also known as Orlu Zone.
Police sources said investigators are probing documents allegedly presented as the authentic result showing Okorocha as winner of the primary, a claim that contradicts the result officially submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the APC.
INEC had reportedly questioned the authenticity of the disputed document and sought investigation into the matter.
*Bench Warrant Issued After Failure To Honour Invitation*
According to police sources, Okorocha was initially invited to appear at the Force Headquarters on September 2, 2026, for questioning.
Following a request by his legal team, the appointment was rescheduled to September 8. However, he allegedly failed to appear on the rescheduled date.
The failure to honour the invitation prompted investigators to obtain a bench warrant from Senior Magistrate Court 3, Jiwa, Abuja. The warrant, reportedly issued on September 9, also named former Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Timothy Ama Chuks and Amen Okorocha, authorising police officers nationwide to arrest them and produce them before the court.
Okorocha’s media office had earlier denied the existence of any arrest warrant before his arrest on Monday night.
The police say investigation is ongoing.
