The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has questioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ise-Orun/Ikere/Ekiti South-West Federal Constituency in the 2027 election, Toyin Zacheous Okoro, 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 before investigators at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, September 17, 2026, following an invitation issued by the anti-graft agency.
He reportedly arrived at about 2pm and spent roughly 30 minutes at the commission’s reception before being taken into an interrogation room at about 2:40pm. Investigators questioned him for more than two hours before he was released on bail at about 5pm and directed to return for further questioning.
The invitation, dated September 7, 2026, was signed by Oshinyemi Oluwaseun, Head of the ICPC Special Duty Team, on behalf of the commission’s chairman. The notice said the investigation concerned an alleged violation 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.
“Additionally, you may wish to come with a lawyer or any individual of your choice.”
At the centre of the investigation is an allegation that Okoro operated a private company while serving as a Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly, a position that made him a public servant, contrary to applicable public service rules.
Investigators are also examining allegations that he used his position to facilitate government contracts for the company from public institutions, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
Another allegation being examined is that Okoro continued to receive salaries and allowances from the National Assembly while allegedly retaining beneficial ownership of the private company.
The probe also reportedly covers claims that, after questions were raised over his alleged involvement with the company and complaints were made to anti-graft agencies, he falsified or backdated resignation documents in an attempt to defend his position.
Okoro is further alleged to have made false declarations under oath in documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with investigators reportedly examining alleged discrepancies between those submissions and records held by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the National Assembly.
The APC candidate was subsequently released on bail and is expected to return to the ICPC for further engagement as the investigation continues. As of the time of filing this report, Okoro had not publicly issued a detailed response to the allegations.
