Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has alleged that he was offered a staggering N5 billion bribe to orchestrate his principal’s impeachment.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Ehie claimed he possesses evidence of the bribe attempt stored on his phone.
He said, “I can also open my phone to show you, in the beginning of October 2023, when they approached me with a bribe of N5 billion. It is here in my phone. It was for impeachment. It’s here. I have it and I have printed it and distributed it, in case, in their evil imagination, they decide to attack me. I already have a son and a brother.”
Ehie stated that the offer was made while he was serving as the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He also dismissed allegations that he orchestrated the October 30, 2023, bombing of the Rivers Assembly complex on Fubara’s orders. The accusation was made by former Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, who claimed during a press conference last Friday that he saw a bag of money handed over to Ehie at the Government House for the operation—though he admitted he did not know the amount inside.
Refuting the allegations, Ehie described them as politically motivated.
He said, “It is very important to clarify that I had no hand and was not part of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Like everyone else, I woke up in the early hours of 30th of October 2023 to hear of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
The Chief of Staff revealed that he has instructed his lawyers to file a lawsuit against Nwaeke for criminal libel.
He stated, “I will not join issues completely with Mr. George Nwaeke because I have already instructed my lawyers to file an issue of criminal libel against him, and I hope he is very prepared to substantiate his claims and his allegations.”
Furthermore, Ehie alleged that Nwaeke had sought financial assistance from him on the same day he resigned as Head of Service.
Rivers State has been embroiled in political turmoil following 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 Rivers State and suspended both the governor and his deputy.
In a further escalation, on March 26, the state’s sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, suspended all political officeholders in the state.
