Former Governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, has refuted reports claiming that Senior Magistrate Court 3 in Jiwa, Abuja, issued a bench warrant for his arrest over alleged forgery and fraud.
​In an official statement released in Abuja at 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 10, 2026, Okorocha’s Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, characterized the reports as a completely fabricated attempt by political detractors to smear the senator’s public image.
​The controversy stems from rumors suggesting Magistrate Court 3 ordered Okorocha’s arrest following a direct criminal complaint filed on Friday, October 9, 2026.
Addressing journalists at his personal office in the Maitama district of Abuja shortly after the statement was issued, Onwuemeodo challenged those originating the story to produce a certified true copy of any such court order.
​”There is no iota of truth in the publication claiming that a magistrate court in Jiwa issued a bench warrant against Senator Rochas Okorocha,” Onwuemeodo stated during the press briefing.
“No court summons was ever served on the Distinguished Senator, nor was there any sitting at Magistrate Court 3 on the date in question regarding this matter. We challenge the purveyors of this false narrative to publish the authentic bench warrant and name the presiding magistrate within 48 hours.”
​Onwuemeodo further noted that Okorocha remains a law-abiding citizen focused on his national assignments and urged supporters and members of the public to disregard the reports as baseless political mischief.
As of Saturday evening, no court official at the Jiwa Magistrate Division has confirmed the existence of any pending warrant against the former governor.
