Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has claimed he was offered ₦5 billion to lead the impeachment of his principal.
Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Ehie stated he has evidence of the bribe offer stored on his phone.
“I can also open my phone to show you, in the beginning of October 2023, when they approached me with a bribe of ₦5 billion. It is here in my phone,” he said.
“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, who was the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly at the time, said the offer came while he held that position.
He also denied allegations that he masterminded the October 30, 2023, attack on the state assembly complex on Fubara’s orders.
Former Head of Service in Rivers State, George Nwaeke, had claimed at a press conference last Friday that he witnessed a bag of money being handed over to Ehie at the Government House to carry out the operation. However, he admitted he did not know the amount inside.
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Dismissing the allegation as false and politically motivated, Ehie said, “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.”
He revealed that he has instructed his lawyers to sue Nwaeke for criminal libel.
“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 said.
Ehie further alleged that Nwaeke had sought financial assistance from him on the same day he resigned as Head of Service.
Rivers State has been in crisis since 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 the state and suspended both the governor and his deputy.
On March 26, the sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, suspended all political officeholders in the state.