Acquitted Men Allege Political Plot in Rivers Assembly Bombing
PORT HARCOURT — April 8, 2025 | IDNN Investigates
In a stunning post-trial revelation, three men acquitted of the October 29, 2023 Rivers State House of Assembly bombing have alleged they were coerced to falsely implicate Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, in the arson attack that razed part of the legislative complex.
The blast occurred on the eve of a failed impeachment attempt against Governor Fubara by lawmakers loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, intensifying the rift that would later polarize the state assembly.
“We Were Told to Name Ehie”— Acquitted Defendants Speak Out
Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, Chime Ezebalike, flanked by the other two freed men, claimed they were pressured by unnamed political actors to rewrite their confessions and frame Mr. Edison Ehie as the mastermind of the attack.
“We were asked to rewrite our story and falsely name Mr. Ehie as the mastermind of the assembly fire,” Ezebalike said, as quoted by Vanguard Newspaper.
He added that they refused to comply, citing trauma, unjust detention, and threats to their lives during interrogations.
Torture Alleged, Identities Withheld
The men claimed they were arrested under unclear circumstances, held at the Federal Intelligence Response Team (FIRT) facility in Port Harcourt, and subjected to blindfolding, denial of legal counsel, and coercive interrogations aimed at extracting confessions to link them with:
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The assembly bombing,
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The murder of police officer Bako Angbashim in Ahoada, and
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An alleged attempt on the life of Assembly Speaker Martins Amaewhule.
They declined to name those behind the alleged pressure campaign, citing fear for their safety.
🏛️ Who is Edison Ehie?
Edison Ehie, a trained lawyer and former lawmaker representing Ahoada-East Constituency II, became a central figure during the Rivers political crisis. He was elected Speaker of the Fubara-loyalist faction of the House but resigned in line with the peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu.
Following the peace pact, Governor Fubara appointed Ehie as his Chief of Staff, a move widely seen as rewarding loyalty and consolidating control over the state executive.
🔍 IDNN Quick Insight
Timeline Event Oct 29, 2023 Bombing of Rivers Assembly Complex Oct 30, 2023 Failed Impeachment Attempt on Fubara Nov 2024 Acquittal of three suspects after months of detention April 2025 Public allegations of coercion and political framing surface
The Fallout: Who Benefits from the Chaos?
The revelation reopens questions about the political warfare between Governor Fubara and former Governor Wike, and the use of security forces as alleged tools for political vendettas.
With Edison Ehie’s name repeatedly dragged into plots—despite no conviction—analysts say the pressure campaign may have been aimed at discrediting a key Fubara ally before the 2027 power struggle intensifies.
What to Watch:
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Will the security agencies respond to the allegations of coercion and torture?
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Will the men petition human rights commissions or pursue compensation for wrongful detention?
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Could this case spark a wider inquiry into the politicization of the Rivers crisis?
