The Chief of Staff to suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Edison Ehie, has alleged that he was offered a N5 billion bribe to orchestrate the impeachment of his principal.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Ehie claimed to have evidence of the bribe offer stored on his phone, which he has also printed and distributed as a precautionary measure.
“I can also open my phone to show you… in October 2023, they approached me with a bribe of N5 billion. It is here on my phone. It was for impeachment,” he said.
Ehie stated that the offer was made while he was serving as the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Chief of Staff also dismissed accusations that he was involved in the October 30, 2023, arson attack on the Rivers Assembly complex. Former state Head of Service, George Nwaeke, had alleged that Ehie received a bag of money at the Government House for the attack, though he admitted he did not know the amount inside.
Describing the claims as politically motivated, Ehie maintained his innocence. “Like everyone else, I woke up on October 30, 2023, to hear of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” he said.
Ehie revealed that he has instructed his lawyers to file a criminal libel lawsuit against Nwaeke. He also alleged that the former Head of Service had sought financial assistance from him on the same day he resigned from office.
Rivers State has been engulfed in political turmoil following a fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The crisis led President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state on March 18, suspending both the governor and his deputy. On March 26, the sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, suspended all political officeholders in the state.
