Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has refuted any involvement in the October 29, 2023, explosion at the Rivers State House of Assembly chambers.
In a recent interview, Ehie stressed that only the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, has access to the Assembly complex outside working hours or on weekends, insisting that Amaewhule should be held accountable for the incident that impacted the legislative chambers.
“It is crucial to clarify that I had no part in the burning of the Rivers State Assembly,” he stated while appearing on Channels Television on Sunday night, March 30.
Ehie further alleged that ten witnesses, including senior police officers, testified before a Federal High Court in Abuja, confirming they saw Speaker Amaewhule’s convoy, which was why he was granted access to the Assembly complex on the night of the explosion.
On Friday, former Rivers State Head of Civil Service, George Nweke, accused Governor Fubara of orchestrating the explosion, with Ehie as an accomplice.
Responding to Nweke’s claims, Ehie said, “I will not engage in arguments with Mr. George Nweke because I have already instructed my lawyers to file a criminal libel case against him. I hope he is prepared to substantiate his claims and allegations.”
Ehie added, “It is evident that George Nweke was not in his right frame of mind.”
He accused Nweke of yielding to political pressure for financial gain.
Referencing Nweke’s wife’s recent public outcry about her husband’s sudden disappearance over the weekend, Ehie described him as someone who had “betrayed his conscience” and his family in pursuit of material wealth.
He then presented WhatsApp messages purportedly showing Nweke seeking financial assistance shortly after resigning as Head of Service last week, arguing that Nweke lacked contentment.
Additionally, Ehie dismissed Nweke’s significance in the governance of Rivers State, asserting that he held no real influence.
According to Ehie, Nweke never had private meetings with the suspended governor and challenged him to specify any instance when he visited Fubara without security clearance.
“George Nweke has never been, nor is he even on the protocol list of those with uninterrupted access to the governor,” Ehie stated.
“The records are in the Government House. The security clearance, which I oversee, is with the DSS.
“I challenge George Nweke to provide proof that he visited the Government House from October 29, 2023, onward at odd hours without prior DSS clearance to discuss with the governor. Let him show the records—there are none,” he concluded.
