Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has alleged that he turned down a N5 billion bribe meant to facilitate the governor’s impeachment.
Speaking in an interview on Channels TV on Sunday night, Ehie stated,
“In October, I was approached with a N5 billion bribe against the governor, but I refused. The bribe was for impeachment, but I turned it down.”
He claimed to have evidence of the attempted bribe, saying, “I can open my phone to show you the proof from early October 2023.” However, he did not disclose who made the offer.
Ehie’s revelation follows accusations from George Nwaeke, a former Rivers State Head of Service, who alleged that Governor Fubara was behind the political turmoil that led to the declaration of emergency rule in the state.
Nwaeke claimed that Fubara and Ehie orchestrated the bombing of the state’s House of Assembly complex and alleged that the governor provided a large sum of money for the act.
“I was there when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation, though I do not know the amount inside,” Nwaeke said.
“I want to tell the people of Rivers that the House of Assembly complex on Moscow Road was deliberately brought down by Edison Ehie under the instructions of Governor Fubara.
I challenge him to an open confrontation.”
Ehie, however, dismissed these allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
“It is very important to clarify that I had no hand in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Like everyone else, I woke up on October 30, 2023, to hear about it,” he said.
The political crisis in Rivers State led President Bola Tinubu to impose emergency rule, citing the need to restore peace and stability. However, the decision has faced backlash from many Nigerians, who argue that it is unconstitutional and should be reversed to protect the country’s democracy.