The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of former presidential adviser, Okoi Obono-Obla, over allegations of forgery and obtaining entry into the legal profession by false pretence.
The arrest was confirmed by the Cross River State Police Command through its spokesperson, Eitokpah Sunday, who dismissed claims that the former aide was abducted.
According to the police, Obono-Obla was arrested on Thursday around Abuja Park in Ugep town, Cross River State, following a petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police. The petition accused him of forgery and unlawfully securing professional admission into the legal field.
The command stated that the arrest was carried out in line with existing laws and the constitutional powers of the police to investigate alleged criminal conduct. After his arrest, he was taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Calabar, where investigations are ongoing.
Police authorities said his legal counsel has been notified and is participating in the process, while his relatives have also been informed of his whereabouts. The command stressed that reports suggesting kidnapping or involvement of unidentified security operatives were false.
Obono-Obla previously served as Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution under former Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari and chaired the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property.
His legal troubles date back to 2019 when he was suspended from the panel following an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over alleged falsification of records and financial misconduct. The commission accused him of forging academic credentials to study law at the University of Jos.
He was later declared wanted for failing to honour ICPC invitations and was eventually arrested and arraigned in Abuja over an alleged N10.1 million fraud. In 2021, the anti-corruption agency re-arraigned him on additional charges related to alleged falsification and forgery of school records.
