The Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Edison Ehie, has claimed that he was offered N5 billion to support the impeachment of his principal.
Ehie made this allegation during an interview on Channels Television’s *Sunday Politics*, stating that he has proof of the bribe offer stored on his phone.
“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,” he said.
He further explained that the money was offered while he was serving as the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“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 added.
The Chief of Staff also denied allegations that he was involved in the October 30, 2023, burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.
A former Head of Service in the state, George Nwaeke, had claimed at a press conference last Friday that he saw a bag of money being given to Ehie at the Government House for the alleged attack, although he admitted he did not know how much was inside.
In response, Ehie dismissed the claim as false and politically motivated.
“It is very important to clarify that I had no hand in and was not part of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” he said.
“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.”
Ehie also stated that he had instructed his lawyers to take legal action against Nwaeke for criminal libel.
“I will not completely join issues 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 allegations,” he said.
He further alleged that Nwaeke had asked him for financial assistance on the same day he resigned as head of service.
Rivers State has been experiencing political unrest following a fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended both the governor and his deputy.
On March 26, the state’s sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, suspended all political officeholders in the state.
