Today’s Headlines: No Court Ordered My Arrest – Okorocha; Customs Seize N3.6bn Drug-laced Cookies

Former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has dismissed reports claiming that a magistrate court issued a bench warrant for his arrest over alleged forgery. Through his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha challenged those behind the report to publish the alleged warrant within 48 hours, insisting that neither a magistrate court nor the High Court had ordered his arrest.

Okorocha questioned the credibility of the report, noting that the petition allegedly prompting the warrant was dated October 8, 2026, while the arrest order was reportedly issued the following day, leaving insufficient time for investigations. He also denied that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or its Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner had petitioned against him, explaining that the complaint concerned a document claiming he won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for Imo West Senatorial District.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port Command, has intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying suspected illicit drug-related substances worth an estimated ₦3.67 billion at Lagos port. The seizures, made on September 2 and 16, 2026, included cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 598.08 kilogrammes, as well as 1,207 packages of Cannabis indica weighing 603.75 kilogrammes. The substances were concealed among used vehicles and automobile spare parts.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Oscar Ivara, attributed the interceptions to effective collaboration between the Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). He said the combined seizures weighed 1,201.83 kilogrammes and reaffirmed the service’s commitment to preventing drug smuggling through Nigeria’s seaports. The seized substances are to be formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation.

Several members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Benue State sustained serious injuries on Saturday after a bus conveying them to the party’s rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State, collided head-on with another vehicle. The injured delegates were taken to hospitals in Lafia for treatment, while the number of casualties remained unknown. However, the APC State Publicity Secretary of the Austin Agada faction, Dan-Morgan Ihomun, confirmed that no lives were lost.

The accident occurred months after a similar incident involving APC delegates travelling from Benue to Lafia. On March 25, 2026, three delegates from Ogbadibo Local Government Area died, while about 10 others were injured when their bus crashed on the way to the party’s North-Central Zonal Congress.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return to the national team during the November international break, according to Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proença. He said the federation, coach and players are united in their desire to welcome the Al-Nassr forward back, adding that Ronaldo is also willing to return to the squad.

Proença described the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as the greatest of all time, raising hopes of his comeback ahead of Portugal’s upcoming international fixtures. However, Ronaldo’s return will depend on the final squad selection and the resolution of any outstanding issues.

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