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Edison Ehie, the chief of staff to suspended Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara, says he was offered a N5 billion bribe to orchestrate the governor’s removal from office.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Ehie asserted that he possesses concrete evidence of the bribery attempt. “I can open my phone and show you. In early October 2023, I was approached with an offer of N5 billion. It’s all here on my phone,” he stated.
“The money was meant to facilitate impeachment. I have printed and distributed the evidence in case they attempt anything against me.”
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Ehie, who was then the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, insisted he rejected the offer and has since safeguarded proof of the transaction.
Rivers State has been embroiled in political tension 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 and suspended both the governor and his deputy.
Subsequently, on March 26, the state’s sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, suspended all political officeholders, deepening the state’s political crisis.
Beyond the bribery allegations, Ehie also dismissed accusations linking him to the October 30, 2023, attack on the Rivers State House of Assembly. The claims were made by George Nwaeke, a former Head of Service, who alleged during a press conference that he saw Ehie receive a bag of money at the Government House to execute the attack. However, Nwaeke admitted he did not know the exact sum contained in the bag.
Read also: Fubara denies allegations of political crisis, blasts ex-head of service
In response, Ehie described the accusation as politically motivated and entirely baseless. “I had no involvement in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Like everyone else, I woke up to the news on October 30, 2023,” he said.
He further disclosed that his legal team has initiated a criminal defamation lawsuit against Nwaeke. “I will not engage in a war of words with Mr. George Nwaeke. I have instructed my lawyers to pursue a criminal libel case against him, and I expect him to prove his claims in court.”
Ehie also alleged that Nwaeke had sought financial assistance from him on the same day he resigned as head of service, suggesting ulterior motives behind the accusations.
