Rivers: “How I was offered N5bn bribe to betray Fubara” – Ex-speaker, Edison Ehie

Former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and current Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, Hon. Edison Ehie, has alleged that he was offered a N5 billion bribe to support Fubara’s impeachment while he was still Speaker.

Speaking during an interview on Channels TV, Ehie revealed that he rejected the offer, emphasizing Governor Fubara’s commitment to peace.

“The governor is a man of peace. The governor decided to follow the way of conflict resolution. In October, I was approached with N5 billion bribe against the governor, but I refused. The bribe was for impeachment, but I turned it down,” Ehie said.

Addressing accusations made by former Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, who alleged that Ehie was involved in the bombing of the State Assembly, Ehie denied any connection to the incident.

He instead accused Nwaeke of being financially compromised to make such claims.

“It’s very important to clarify that I was not, had no hand in the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” he stated.

“I have no hand, not privy, no information. We just woke up and heard that the Assembly had been bombed. We had finished screening commissioners and left the complex. We didn’t adjourn to October 30, 2023, when we finished sitting. October 29 was a Sunday.”

He further alleged that security operatives investigating the incident had implicated the Speaker’s convoy.

“The security operatives during the investigation said they saw the convoy of the Speaker coming out of the Assembly. Once it is 6 pm, it is only one person that has access to the complex, and that is the Speaker,” he added.

Ehie also disclosed that Nwaeke had approached Governor Fubara for financial assistance just a day after resigning.

“George Nwaeke resigned on March 24, 2025. By Tuesday, March 25, 2025, he was appealing that the governor should give him money, that he doesn’t have a better house and other helps. The problem is that of contentment. He is not a contented man. He was requesting for money,” he claimed.

He further explained that the governor refused Nwaeke’s request because he had already stepped down, adding, “The governor wouldn’t have given him money at that time because he had already tendered his resignation letter, stating that he cannot work with a government that is not led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.”

On allegations that Fubara failed to rebuild the Assembly complex, Ehie maintained that the reconstruction was nearly complete.

“The job is 80% completed, and the contractor fully paid. The administrator on visit to the complex confirmed that it is almost completed,” he said.