Suspects Acquitted For Rivers Assembly Blast Allege Threat To Implicate Fubara’s Chief of Staff

Three men, who were acquitted in connection with the bomb blast that damaged part of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex in October 2023, have accused political figures of pressuring them to falsely implicate Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s chief of staff, Edison Ehie, in the crime.

The explosion, which occurred on the eve of an impeachment attempt against Fubara by lawmakers aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike, led to the destruction of a section of the assembly.

The men were initially charged with involvement in the arson, but they were acquitted by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt in November 2024 after almost a year of detention.

At a press conference in Port Harcourt on Monday, Chime Ezebalike, speaking on behalf of the three men, claimed that they were coerced into changing their statements to falsely accuse Ehie of masterminding the bombing.

“We were pressured by certain politicians to name Edison Ehie as the person behind the bomb blast. They wanted us to say he was the mastermind, but we refused,” Ezebalike said.

However, Ezebalike did not reveal the names of the political figures who allegedly pressured them.

The men also spoke about their mistreatment while in detention, including being blindfolded, denied legal representation, and subjected to coercion during their interrogation.

“We were blindfolded, beaten, and not allowed to speak to our lawyers. They tried to make us confess to crimes we didn’t commit,” one of the men stated.

“They even tried to tie us to the murder of the police officer, Bako Angbashim, and the attempt on the life of the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule,” another added.

Ehie, a lawyer and former member of the state assembly, became the speaker of a faction loyal to Fubara after the assembly split into two factions.

He later resigned both as speaker and as a member of the house following a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu.

Ehie was subsequently appointed as Fubara’s chief of staff.

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.

Related posts:

Chief Of Army Staff, Chief Of Air Staff & Chief Of Naval Staff Meet In Aso Rock Rivers Assembly Explosion: Court Orders Arrest Of Fubara’s Chief Of Staff, Five Others Rivers: Wike’s Loyalist, Amadi Resigns As Fubara’s Chief Of Staff Rivers Crisis: Fubara Writes Rivers Assembly Again, Proposes New Date For 2025 Budget Presentation