Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has come forward with a startling claim, alleging that he was offered a staggering N5 billion bribe to facilitate the impeachment of Fubara, who is currently embroiled in a political crisis.
“I can also open my phone to show you, in the beginning of October 2023, when they approached me with a bribe of N5 billion. It is here in my phone,
“It was for impeachment. It is 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 said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, monitored by Persecondnews.
According to him, he has evidence of the bribe offer stored on his phone.
The offer, he alleged, was made while he was serving as the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Ehie vehemently denied allegations that he masterminded the October 30, 2023, bombing of the State House of Assembly complex at Fubara’s behest.
Persecondnews recalls that the allegation was made by the immediate past Head of Service in the state, Dr. George Nwaeke, who resigned last week at a news conference on March 28.
Nwaeke had alleged that he personally witnessed a bag of money being handed over to Ehie to carry out an “operation”, although he claimed he did not know the exact amount inside the bag.
Ehie rejected the allegations as “false” and “politically motivated” saying: “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 30th of October 2023 to hear of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“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.”
He further alleged that Nwaeke had sought financial assistance from him on the very same day he resigned as the Head of Service.
Rivers State has been plagued by intense political upheaval, triggered by the highly publicized rift between Fubara and his estranged predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
This fallout has sparked a fierce power struggle, drawing in various key players, including the State House of Assembly, and culminating in impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara.
The situation has been further complicated by a Supreme Court ruling that reinforced the legitimacy of Speaker Martins Amaewhule, leading to escalating tensions between the governor and the assembly.
President Bola Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in the state on March 18, 2025, and suspended Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the House of Assembly for a period of six months.
Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, whom he swore in on March 19 as the sole administrator, has already taken office.
On March 26, Ibas suspended all political office holders in the state.
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