I was not involved in burning of Rivers Assembly Complex – Edison Ehie

Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has said he had no hand in the activities of arsonists at the Rivers State House of Assembly complex in 2023.

It would be recalled that former Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, had alleged that Fubara and Ehie were masterminds of the burning of the Assembly Complex.

But Ehie while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, said “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 house of 30th of October 2023 to hear of the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

Ehie said he has instructed his lawyers to initiate a criminal libel suit against Nwaeke for his false claims.

“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.

Ehie said the Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule should be questioned about the fire in the state assembly complex in October 2023, alleging that the fire started on an evening shortly after security officials allowed the speaker’s convoy into the complex.

He said Nwaeke has yielded to political enemies “to satisfy his hunger for emergency riches”.

The chief of staff refuted claims of Nwaeke’s close relationship with Fubara, saying the former head of service didn’t have private meetings with the suspended governor. He challenged Nwaeke to mention the day and time he visited Fubara without security clearance.