By Abiola Olawale
Cyril Omini, a member representing the Yakurr 1 state constituency in the Cross River state House of Assembly, has announced that he was the one who wrote a petition against Okoi Obono-Obla, a former special assistant (Prosecution)to the late president Muhammadu Buhari.
While media headlines have largely focused on allegations of certificate forgery, Omini emphasized that the core of his grievance is rooted in defamation of character.
Recall that 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.
Reacting to the development, Omini said he was compelled to address what he described as “misinformation” surrounding Obono-Obla’s arrest.
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”.
According to him, the situation escalated on August 7, 2025, when Obono-Obla allegedly led police officers to his residence in Ugep around 3 am 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.
“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.
“As an elected representative, I am not immune to criticism. I have been criticized before and will likely be criticized again. That is the nature of public service. However, there exists a clear and inviolable line between fair criticism and the malicious fabrication of criminal allegations.
“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 a 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.
The lawmaker said he decided to seek a formal investigation after the allegations persisted.
“I did not seek an arrest. I sought the truth,” Omini said.
He 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.
“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.
“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.”
