Acquitted Suspects Accuse Political Pressure in Attempt to Frame Fubara’s Chief of Staff

Four individuals, who were previously arrested in connection with the fire that gutted the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, the alleged attempted assassination of a former Speaker of the Assembly, and the murder of the late Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada East, SP Bako Angbashim, have strongly denied any involvement in these crimes. They claimed that they were wrongfully detained and that political figures sought to pressure them into falsely implicating the Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

The individuals – Chime Ezebalike, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Macpherson Olimini, and Prince Lookman Oladele – had been detained for several months at the Kuje Correctional Facility before being granted bail. They were facing serious accusations related to the burning of the Assembly complex and other high-profile criminal incidents. Despite their acquittal, they remain adamant about their innocence and have demanded justice for the mistreatment they endured.

Ezebalike, who spoke on behalf of the group, recounted their harrowing experiences in a press conference on Monday in Port Harcourt. He claimed that some political figures loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, tried to bribe them in an effort to coerce them into making false confessions. According to Ezebalike, these figures offered them large sums of money, as well as an all-expense-paid trip to Ghana for themselves and their families, in exchange for implicating Edison Ehie, Fubara’s Chief of Staff, in the alleged fire at the Assembly complex.

“It was clear that they wanted to use us to falsely implicate Edison Ehie,” Ezebalike said. “We were subjected to harsh conditions and inhumane treatment during our detention, and we were told that if we didn’t comply, we would remain behind bars indefinitely. They thought we could be manipulated with money and promises, but we refused.”

Ezebalike went on to describe how, despite being released from detention, their ordeal was far from over. He revealed that only weeks ago, a prominent political figure from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area invited one of the men with the intention of enticing him into making new confessions. These confessions, he claimed, were intended to align with the recent accusations made by George Nweke, the former Head of Service in Rivers State.

He emphasized that the purpose of the press briefing was not just to recount their personal suffering but to make a public appeal for justice. “No youth in Rivers State should ever go through the torment and unlawful treatment that we have faced. This must not continue,” Ezebalike stated.

In his statement, Ezebalike also called on civil society organizations, human rights groups, and advocates for justice to rally behind them and prevent the abuse of power for political gain. “We need your support in resisting any attempt to use the security apparatus to settle political scores and to target innocent citizens,” he urged.

The group’s accusations come at a time of heightened political tension in Rivers State, where suspicions of political manipulation and abuse of power have been growing. As the case continues to unfold, their revelations have sparked concerns about the integrity of the investigation and the role of political figures in influencing legal outcomes.

The press briefing also shed light on the deep psychological and emotional toll the accused have faced. Kpasa, one of the acquitted individuals, broke down in tears as he recounted his experience of being falsely accused and imprisoned. “We were treated like criminals for something we never did,” Kpasa said. “The psychological trauma is something I don’t wish on anyone.”

Olimini and Oladele also joined Ezebalike in condemning the actions of those who sought to manipulate them into false confessions. They maintained that they had been unlawfully detained and subjected to unjust treatment in an attempt to settle political scores. “We have been through hell, and we are determined to fight for our rights,” Olimini stated firmly.

The allegations raised by the group underscore ongoing concerns about the use of state power for political purposes. Observers are closely monitoring how the authorities will respond to these claims and whether they will take any action against those accused of trying to influence the accused into making false statements.

As the press conference concluded, Ezebalike delivered a final plea for justice: “We want our story to be heard, and we want justice for the wrongs we have endured. We are not criminals, and we should not be treated as such.”