Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has denied any involvement in the fire that engulfed the state’s House of Assembly complex on October 29, 2023.
The accusation was made by former Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, who alleged that both Fubara and Ehie orchestrated the attack.
Speaking on Channels Television Sunday Politics, Ehie refuted the claims, stating, “It is very important to clarify that I was not, I had no hand and was not part of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Like everyone else, I woke up in the early hours of the 30th of October 2023 to hear of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”*
Taking legal steps to counter the accusations, Ehie revealed that his legal team has been instructed to file a lawsuit for criminal libel against Nwaeke.
“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 George Nwaeke and I hope he is very prepared to substantiate his claims and his allegations,” he said.
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Ehie also redirected attention toward the Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, suggesting that security records should be reviewed.
He claimed the fire broke out shortly after Amaewhule’s convoy was granted access to the Assembly complex.
Dismissing Nwaeke’s credibility, Ehie alleged that the former Head of Service was being used as a pawn by political opponents in exchange for financial gain.
He further pointed to messages sent by Nwaeke requesting monetary assistance after his resignation, calling him “not a contented man” and suggesting that his statements were influenced by personal struggles rather than facts.
Additionally, Ehie downplayed Nwaeke’s political relevance, disputing any claims of a close relationship between him and Governor Fubara.
He challenged Nwaeke to provide evidence of private meetings with the governor without security clearance.
“George Nwaeke has never, he is not even in the protocol list of those who can have uninterrupted access to the governor,” Ehie stated.
He further emphasised that all movements within the Government House are documented, making it impossible for Nwaeke to have had unauthorized meetings with the governor.
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“The records are in the Government House. The security clearance of the Government House, which I superintend or supervise, is with the DSS. I challenge George Nwaeke to mention from the 29th of October 2023, like he claimed, to the other day when he visited Government House, either at odd hours without prior clearance from the DSS, to say that he discussed with the governor. Let him show the record. There is none.”
