Former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha was released on police bail after an hour of questioning in Abuja on Monday night, police spokesperson Aniete Iniedu said.
Police arrested him at REIZ Continental Hotel in central Abuja over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. The allegations remain under investigation.
Iniedu, a chief superintendent of police, told Channels Television that Okorocha was asked to return to the Force Headquarters on Tuesday, October 13, for further questioning.
The arrest reportedly followed his failure to honour earlier police invitations. He was initially invited for September 2, but the appointment was moved to September 8 at his lawyers’ request, a date he reportedly also failed to attend.
Premium Times linked the investigation to a dispute over documents concerning the APC’s May 18 Imo West senatorial primary. It reported that INEC’s Imo office petitioned the police and the State Security Service after a document emerged naming Okorocha as the winner, contrary to the commission’s recognised result naming Governor Hope Uzodimma.
According to Premium Times, INEC attached the official report and the disputed document to its petitions and asked the security agencies to investigate the document’s source and authenticity.
Okorocha had also filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the primary winner, Premium Times reported.
Sources: Channels TV, Premium Times
Something we should clarify?
Contact the newsroom
