Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has accused individuals of offering him N5 billion to help coordinate the impeachment of his principal. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Ehie claimed he has evidence of the bribe offer stored on his phone.
“I can show you, in October 2023, when they approached me with a N5 billion bribe. It’s all on my phone,” he said. “It was for impeachment. I have printed it out and shared copies, just in case they try to attack me. I already have a son and a brother.”
Ehie added that the offer was made when he served as the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He also denied accusations that he was behind the October 30, 2023, bombing of the Rivers Assembly complex on Fubara’s orders. The claim was made by George Nwaeke, a former Head of Service in the state, during a press conference last Friday. Nwaeke alleged he witnessed a bag of money being handed to Ehie at the Government House for the operation, though he did not know the amount.
Dismissing the allegations as false and politically motivated, Ehie stated, “I had no involvement in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Like everyone else, I woke up on October 30 to hear the news.”
Ehie also revealed that he had instructed his lawyers to pursue a criminal libel case against Nwaeke. “I won’t argue with Mr. Nwaeke directly because I’ve already told my lawyers to file a case of criminal libel against him. I hope he’s ready to support his claims.”
Additionally, Ehie alleged that Nwaeke had asked him for financial help the same day he resigned as head of service.
Rivers State has been in turmoil since Fubara’s fallout with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, suspending both the governor and his deputy. Then, on March 26, Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers State, suspended all political officeholders in the state.