Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has revealed that he was offered a N5 billion bribe to lead the impeachment of his principal.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Ehie claimed he possesses evidence of the bribe offer, which he has stored on his phone and printed for distribution as a precautionary measure.
In his words, “I can also open my phone to show you. In the beginning of October 2023, they approached me with a bribe of N5 billion. It is here in my phone.
“It was for impeachment. 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 disclosed that the offer was made during his tenure as the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Addressing allegations that he orchestrated the October 30, 2023, bombing of the Rivers Assembly complex, Ehie dismissed the claims as politically motivated.
The accusation was made by a former Head of Service in the state, George Nwaeke, during a press conference last Friday.
Nwaeke alleged that he witnessed a bag of money being handed over to Ehie at the Government House to execute the attack, though he admitted he did not know the exact amount inside.
Ehie refuted the allegations, stating, “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 October 30, 2023, to hear of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
He further disclosed that he had instructed his legal team to file a criminal libel lawsuit against Nwaeke, challenging him to substantiate his claims.
“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,” Ehie added.
The political turmoil in Rivers State escalated following a rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In response to the crisis, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state on March 18, suspending both the governor and his deputy.
Subsequently, on March 26, the sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, suspended all political officeholders in the state.
