Okorocha Challenges Alleged Arrest Warrant, Demands Court Documents
By Akin Alade
Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has challenged reports alleging that a court ordered his arrest, demanding documentary evidence to substantiate the claim amid growing political tensions surrounding the 2027 elections. The former senator, through his media team, insisted that no court had issued a bench warrant against him and called on those circulating the report to make the alleged order public.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha’s camp described the report as questionable and challenged its authors to produce the purported court order, including the name of the magistrate said to have issued it. The statement also demanded a retraction if the allegation could not be substantiated within 48 hours
The controversy reportedly centres on an alleged bench warrant said to have been issued by a Senior Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja against Okorocha, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and others over allegations relating to the presentation of purported All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election results. The allegations were linked to a petition reportedly submitted to the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) by Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chukwuemeka Ibejiako.
However, Okorocha’s camp disputed the chronology contained in the report. According to the statement, the petition was dated October 8, 2026, while the alleged court order was reportedly dated September 9, 2026. It argued that the dates raised questions about whether the order could have been issued before the petition and the filing of the case. These claims remain the position of Okorocha’s camp and would require verification against the relevant court records.
The former governor’s media team also disputed suggestions that the electoral commissioner had personally indicted Okorocha. It maintained that the petition sought an investigation into a document circulating in connection with the APC primary for the Imo West Senatorial District, rather than constituting a judicial finding of wrongdoing against the former governor. The distinction is significant, as a petition or request for investigation does not, by itself, establish criminal liability.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, with competing interests surrounding the APC ticket for Imo West adding another dimension to the controversy. Okorocha’s challenge has therefore placed renewed attention on the need for political claims involving alleged criminal proceedings to be supported by verifiable documents, rather than circulated without clear judicial confirmation.
Okorocha’s camp further urged media organisations to exercise caution when reporting allegations involving court proceedings and political figures. It warned against publishing unverified claims and called for peace among political stakeholders, particularly as preparations for the next general election intensify. Whether the alleged warrant exists remains a matter that should be settled through authenticated court records and confirmation from the relevant judicial authorities.
