Acquitted Rivers Assembly Fire Suspects Allege Pressure to Implicate Fubara’s Chief of Staff, Reveal Shocking Details of Torture and Bribery
Four individuals previously detained in connection with the fire incident at the Rivers State House of Assembly have come forward with explosive allegations, claiming they are being pressured to change their statements and falsely implicate Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The four men—Chime Ezebalike, Kenneth Kpasa, Oladele Lukman, and MacPherson Olumini—were arrested in late 2023 and spent six months in detention before being acquitted in November 2024. At a press conference held in Port Harcourt on Monday, they revealed disturbing details of their ordeal, including torture, bribery attempts, and alleged political manipulation.
A Harrowing Ordeal: Arrest, Detention, and Coercion
The men recounted how they were arrested under questionable circumstances between December 2023 and January 2024. Oladele Lukman was the first to be taken into custody on December 5, followed by Chime Ezebalike and MacPherson Olumini on December 16. Kenneth Kpasa was arrested on January 5.
According to their testimonies, they were blindfolded and taken to the Federal Intelligence Response Team (F-IRT) facility in Port Harcourt, where they were subjected to severe torture.
“We were beaten, starved, and denied access to lawyers,” Ezebalike said. “They wanted us to sign false confessions linking Edison Ehie to the fire at the Assembly. When we refused, the torture intensified.”
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Pressure from Political Figures
The men alleged that a high-ranking member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area recently approached them, urging them to alter their statements and name Ehie as the mastermind behind the fire incident.
“They told us to rewrite our story and claim that Edison Ehie ordered the burning of the Assembly,” Ezebalike explained. “This is after we’ve already suffered for months in detention. We will not be part of this evil plot.”
The suspects also claimed that a former Local Government Chairman offered them a ₦200 million bribe and relocation abroad in exchange for their cooperation.
“They even promised one of us freedom if he agreed to falsely identify Kenneth as an arsonist,” Olumini revealed.
Wider Political Conspiracy?
The allegations come amid heightened political tensions in Rivers State. The acquitted men suggested that the pressure to implicate Ehie is part of a broader scheme to legitimize claims made by former Head of Service George Nwaeke, who had previously accused Ehie of involvement in the Assembly fire.
Ehie has since denied the allegations and announced plans to sue Nwaeke for defamation.
The suspects also claimed that authorities attempted to link them to other crimes, including the murder of Ahoada Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Bako Angbashim and an alleged assassination attempt on the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule.
“They wanted us to confess to crimes we knew nothing about,” Kpasa said. “It was clear that this was a political setup.”
A Call for Justice and Accountability
After spending months in Kuje Correctional Facility, the case was transferred to the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, where all charges against them were dropped in November 2024.
Now free, the men say they are speaking out to expose the injustices they faced and to stand against the weaponization of law enforcement for political gain.
“This country belongs to all of us,” Ezebalike declared. “No one should be tortured or forced to lie for political reasons. We call on civil society, the media, and all Nigerians who love justice to stand against this kind of oppression.”
Reactions and Next Steps
The allegations have sparked outrage among human rights groups, with many calling for an independent investigation into the claims of torture and coercion. Legal experts have also weighed in, emphasizing the need for due process and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Meanwhile, Edison Ehie has maintained his innocence, describing the allegations against him as baseless and politically motivated.
“This is nothing but a smear campaign,” Ehie said in a recent statement. “I have never been involved in any criminal activity, and I will pursue legal action against those spreading falsehoods.”
As the situation unfolds, many are watching closely to see whether authorities will take action against those accused of orchestrating the alleged plot.
“We will not stay quiet,” Lukman vowed. “What happened to us should never happen to anyone else.”
