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

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Ehie stated that the bribe attempt occurred in early October 2023 when he was the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He asserted that he has proof of the offer stored on his phone and has also printed and distributed copies as a precaution.

“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,” 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.”

Ehie also addressed accusations linking him to the October 30, 2023, bombing of the Rivers Assembly complex. Former Head of Service George Nwaeke had alleged during a press conference that he witnessed a bag of money being handed over to Ehie at the Government House to execute the attack. However, he admitted he did not know the amount inside.

Dismissing the allegations as politically motivated, Ehie insisted that he had no involvement in the incident. He maintained that he, like others, only learned about the attack after it had happened.

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“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,” Ehie said. “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.”

The Chief of Staff stated that he had instructed his lawyers to sue Nwaeke for criminal libel. He expressed confidence that the former official would not be able to substantiate his claims in court.

“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, implying that the former official’s accusations were driven by personal grievances.

Rivers State has been embroiled in political tension since Fubara’s fallout with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The crisis escalated on March 18 when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, leading to the suspension of both the governor and his deputy. Shortly after, on March 26, the state’s sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, suspended all political office holders.

Reported by The Glitters