Police Refute Fmr Presidential Aide, Obono-Obla’s Kidnap Tale, Says He Is Under Its Custody

By Adesina Soyooye

The Cross Rivers State Police Command  has put a lie to the claim in the Social Media that a former Presidential Aide during the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration,  Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, a Lawyer, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

A viral story had gone out that he had been kidnapped. But in a statement, the Cross River State Police Command

faulted the report and said that he was arrested by its operatives, and is in its custody.

In a statement  on Thursday, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the State Police Public Relations Officer, revealed that Chief Obono-Obla was legally arrested on January 19, 2026, at about 12:00 noon along Abuja Park, Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area.

The arrest, the Police said, stemmed from

a petition submitted to the State Commissioner of Police.

The statement reads in part:

“The Cross River State Police Command wishes to address misleading reports circulating on social media alleging that Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla  was kidnapped or taken by unknown persons.

“The Command states, unequivocally, that Mr.Obono-Obla  was lawfully arrested by police operatives pursuant to a petition alleging offences bordering on forgery and obtaining admission or professional qualification/entry into the legal profession by false pretence.

“The arrest was carried out in accordance with Nigerian law and under the constitutional and statutory powers of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate allegations of criminal conduct.

“Following the arrest, Obono-Obla was taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Calabar, where investigations are ongoing.

“His legal counsel and relatives have been duly informed and are participating in the process.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Command categorically states that allegations of kidnapping or involvement of unidentified security outfits are false, unfounded, and entirely without factual basis.”

During the late President Buhari’s Administration, Obono-Obla was the Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, SPIP. Buhari, however, suspended him from office in August 2019, following allegations of certificate forgery and corruption. He finally scrapped the office. Obono-Obla denies the allegations.