Cyril Omini, a member representing the Yakurr 1 state constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, has clarified that his petition against Okoi Obono-Obla, a former presidential adviser, was not solely about certificate forgery but primarily about defamation and “malicious fabrication of criminal allegations” against him.
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In a statement issued on Saturday, Omini said he was compelled to address what he described as “misinformation” surrounding Obono-Obla’s arrest.
Omini explained the circumstances that led to his petition.
“My petition to the police was never only about certificate forgery and obtaining legal entry by false pretences as some people are trying to make it seem in some parts of the media, but also about defamation of character and malicious fabrication of criminal allegations against me,” he stated.
“I did not seek an arrest. I sought the truth.”
Omini said the former presidential aide had publicly accused him of sponsoring cult activities and being responsible for a person’s death, describing the allegations as “grave criminal accusations.”
“These are not mere insults or expressions of political discontent. They are grave criminal accusations that strike at the core of my character, my integrity, and my humanity,” he said.
According to Omini, the situation escalated on August 7, 2025, when Obono-Obla allegedly led police officers to his residence in Ugep around 3 a.m. over claims that he was harbouring cultists and kidnappers.
He said the operation led to the arrest of his security guard, Ebri Edet Ubi, who was subsequently taken to Calabar, while properties at his residence were damaged.
Omini also alleged that on October 6, 2025, Obono-Obla publicly linked him to cult-related violence and accused him of actions that resulted in the death of one person.
The lawmaker revealed that he initially held back from taking legal action.
“For reasons that will be understandable to every father and every son, I did not rush to the police. I withheld my hand. I hoped for a retraction. I hoped for reason to prevail. I hoped that the man I had called father would remember the son he was seeking to destroy.
“But the allegations persisted. They spread across communities and social media platforms, poisoning minds and inciting tension. It became evident that silence would be interpreted as admission and that my name — the only name my children will inherit — was being buried under the weight of falsehood.”
Omini added that Obono-Obla’s arrest followed standard police procedure after a formal complaint was submitted.
“The arrest of Chief Okoi Obono-Obla was not my doing. It was the outcome of standard police procedure following a formal complaint. I have neither the power nor the desire to dictate the operations of our law enforcement agencies,” he said.
The lawmaker expressed readiness to face investigation.
“I am ready to face any investigation. If I am guilty of the crimes he accused me of, let the law take its course. But if I am innocent and I am then I ask only that the truth be allowed to prevail.”
On Friday, the Cross River Police Command said Obono-Obla was arrested on Thursday in the Ugep area of the state on allegations of forgery and obtaining entry into the legal profession by false pretence.
The command dismissed claims that unidentified security operatives abducted the former presidential aide, adding that the arrest was carried out lawfully in line with police powers.
In 2016, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Obono-Obla as the Special Assistant to the President (Prosecution), Federal Ministry of Justice. He also served as Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP).
In August 2019, Buhari suspended Obono-Obla as chairman of the panel following an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged falsification of records and financial impropriety.
In October 2019, ICPC declared him wanted over “repeated failure to appear before it to answer questions bordering on allegations of fraud and corruption.”
In March 2020, the former presidential aide was arrested by ICPC in Abuja. In March 2021, he was rearraigned over alleged N10.1 million fraud.
In October 2021, ICPC again rearraigned him over charges bordering on alleged falsification and forgery of school results. The ICPC had accused him of forging O’Level results to study law in the 1985/86 academic session at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).
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