Rivers Crisis: Fubara’s Chief of Staff Alleges N5bn Bribe Offer for Governor’s Impeachment

The Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, Edison Ehie, has alleged that he was offered a bribe of N5 billion to support efforts to remove the governor from office.

Ehie made the claim during an interview on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, on Sunday. According to him, the alleged bribe attempt was made while he served as Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“In early October 2023, they approached me with an offer of N5 billion to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor,” Ehie said. “I have proof of this attempt. It’s stored on my phone. I’ve also printed and shared the evidence with trusted persons in case anything happens to me.”

He added that the alleged offer was part of a broader plot to oust Governor Fubara amidst the ongoing political crisis in the state.

Ehie, who was appointed Chief of Staff following his resignation from the House of Assembly in December 2023, also addressed allegations linking him to the fire incident at the Rivers State House of Assembly complex on October 30, 2023.

At a press briefing last week, a former Head of Service in the state, George Nwaeke, claimed he witnessed Ehie receiving a bag of money at the Government House allegedly connected to the attack on the assembly complex. Nwaeke, however, admitted he did not know the amount in the bag.

Responding to the claim, Ehie dismissed it as baseless and politically motivated.

“It is important to state clearly that I had no involvement in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” Ehie said. “I, like every other resident, woke up to the news of the incident.”

He revealed that he had instructed his legal team to file criminal libel charges against Nwaeke.

“I will not join issues with Mr. George Nwaeke. My lawyers have been directed to take legal action against him, and he will be required to substantiate his allegations in court,” he said.

Ehie further alleged that Nwaeke had approached him for financial assistance on the same day he resigned from his position as Head of Service.

The political crisis in Rivers State has deepened in recent months following a rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending both Governor Fubara and his deputy. Days later, on March 26, the state’s sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, announced the suspension of all political officeholders in the state.