I Was Offered N5 Billion Bribe For Fubara’s Impeachment- Rivers Chief Of Staff

Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has claimed he was offered a N5 billion bribe to facilitate the impeachment of his principal.

Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Ehie asserted that he possesses evidence of the offer stored on his phone.

“I can open my phone to show you evidence from early October 2023 when they approached me with a N5 billion bribe. It was for impeachment. I have printed and distributed it, in case, in their evil imagination, they decide to attack me. I already have a son and a brother,” he stated.

At the time of the alleged offer, Ehie was serving as the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Ehie also refuted accusations that he orchestrated the October 30, 2023, bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Fubara’s orders.

The allegation was made by former Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, who claimed during a press conference that he saw a bag of money being handed to Ehie at the Government House for the operation, though he could not verify the exact amount.

Dismissing the claim as false and politically motivated, Ehie said:

“I had no hand in and was not part of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Like everyone else, I woke up on October 30, 2023, to the news of the incident.”

Ehie revealed that he had instructed his legal team to sue Nwaeke for criminal libel.

“I will not engage in a back-and-forth with Mr. George Nwaeke because I have already instructed my lawyers to file a case of criminal libel against him. I hope he is prepared to substantiate his claims,” he added.

He further alleged that Nwaeke had sought financial assistance from him on the same day he resigned as Head of Service.

Rivers State has been engulfed in political unrest following Fubara’s fallout with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, leading to the suspension of both Governor Fubara and his deputy.

Subsequently, on March 26, the state’s sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, suspended all political officeholders in the state.