LAGOS, Nigeria – Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has publicly claimed that he was offered a N5 billion bribe to facilitate the impeachment of his principal.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, March 30, 2025, Ehie revealed that 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 N5 billion. It is here in my phone,” Ehie said, adding that he had taken precautions by printing the evidence and distributing it to ensure his protection in case of any potential attack.
“I already have a son and a brother,” he added.
The bribe offer, according to Ehie, was made while he was serving as the majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He did not name the individuals involved but emphasized that the offer was linked to the impeachment of Governor Fubara.
Ehie also strongly denied claims made by George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of Rivers State, who alleged that Ehie was involved in the October 30, 2023 bombing of the Rivers Assembly complex on Fubara’s orders.
Nwaeke had reportedly claimed that he witnessed a bag of money being handed over to Ehie for the operation, although he admitted he did not know the amount.
Ehie dismissed these allegations as politically motivated and false, stating, “I had no hand and was not part of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
In response to Nwaeke’s accusations, Ehie revealed that he had instructed his lawyers to file a lawsuit against Nwaeke for criminal libel.
“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.
Furthermore, Ehie alleged that Nwaeke had sought financial assistance from him on the same day he resigned as head of service, suggesting a motive for the libelous claims.
Rivers State has been in turmoil since Governor Fubara’s fallout with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
On March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state and suspended both the governor and his deputy.
This was followed by the suspension of all political officeholders in Rivers State on March 26, 2025, by Ibok-Ete Ibas, the newly appointed sole administrator.
