ICPC Grills Ekiti APC Candidate Over Fraud Allegations
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ikere/Ise-Orun/Ekiti South West Federal Constituency in the 2027 House of Representatives election, Toyin Okoro has been questioned by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations bordering on fraud, conflict of interest and false declarations.
Okoro, a former Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, appeared at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, September 17, 2026, following an invitation from the anti-graft agency.
The investigation centres on allegations concerning his alleged involvement in a private company while serving as a legislative aide at the National Assembly.
The commission is also looking into claims that the company secured government contracts from public institutions during the period Okoro was allegedly holding the National Assembly position.
Okoro reportedly arrived at the ICPC office at about 2pm. He spent roughly 30 minutes at the reception before he was taken into an interrogation room around 2:40pm.
Investigators questioned him for more than two hours.
He was later released on bail at about 5pm and was asked to return to the commission for further questioning as the investigation progresses.
The invitation followed a letter dated September 7, 2026, and signed by Oshinyemi Oluwaseun, Head of the ICPC Special Duty Team, on behalf of the chairman of the commission.
The notice said the investigation was being conducted pursuant to provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
“Pursuant to section 28 & 40 of the above cited Act, you are kindly required to appear before the undersigned at the Commission’s headquarters, Abuja on 17 September 2026 by 10am prompt,” the notice reads.
The commission also informed the APC candidate that he could appear with legal representation.
“Additionally, you may wish to come with a lawyer or any individual of your choice.”
Moreover, the ICPC also examined his private company allegation.
One of the major issues being examined by investigators is the alleged operation of a private company by Okoro while he was working as a Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly.
The ICPC is reportedly examining whether his involvement with the company breached public service rules governing officials and aides serving in public institutions.
Investigators are also looking into allegations that Okoro used his position as a public servant to help the company obtain contracts from government agencies.
Among the institutions mentioned in connection with the allegations are the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
The investigation also covers claims that Okoro continued to receive salaries and allowances from the National Assembly while allegedly maintaining beneficial ownership of the private company.
Another aspect of the case concerns his alleged resignation from the company.
According to the allegations being examined, when questions were raised about his involvement with the company and complaints were made to anti-graft authorities, a resignation letter was allegedly falsified or backdated.
The commission is also examining claims relating to documents submitted by Okoro to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The allegations suggest that information contained in his submissions to INEC may not be consistent with records held by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the National Assembly.
The ICPC investigation comes months after Okoro emerged as the APC candidate for the federal constituency.
He won the party’s primary election for the constituency in May 2026. Reports from the primary showed that he secured 9,798 votes to defeat other aspirants, including incumbent Rufus Ojuawo.
The constituency covers Ikere, Ise-Orun and Ekiti South West Local Government Areas.
His emergence also generated controversy within the APC in Ekiti.
In May, the party publicly responded to reports concerning the identity and background of its candidate.
The APC state leadership rejected claims that it had fielded a non-indigene in its House of Representatives primaries.
The party’s publicity secretary, Segun Dipe, said the reports were false and insisted that the candidates who emerged from the primaries were indigenes of the state.
Okoro’s campaign organisation also rejected the allegations surrounding his identity and described them as politically motivated.
He nevertheless went ahead with his campaign after securing the party ticket.
His name subsequently appeared among the candidates for the constituency in the 2027 election.
Available election records identify Okoro Toyin Zaccheus as the APC candidate for the constituency.
However, the allegations against Okoro remain allegations at this stage.
His questioning by the ICPC does not amount to a conviction or a judicial finding that he committed any offence.
The anti-graft agency is expected to continue examining documents and other evidence connected to the allegations.
His release on bail also means that the investigation has not been concluded.
Okoro is expected to return to the commission for another round of questioning.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC candidate had not publicly issued a detailed response to the allegations being investigated by the ICPC.
