- APC Chairman Tony Okocha urged a probe into suspended Governor Fubara’s alleged role in the Assembly complex bombing
- Ex-Head of Service Nwaeke had claimed Fubara funded the attack to avoid impeachment, while Fubara's aide dismissed the allegations
- Okocha insisted Nwaeke’s account was credible and urged security agencies to investigate the claims of financial mismanagement
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has called for a thorough investigation into suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his allies over the demolition of the state House of Assembly complex and allegations of financial mismanagement.
Okocha's call follows a statement made by the former Head of Service (HoS) in the state, George Nwaeke, who over the weekend accused Fubara of orchestrating the bombing of the Assembly complex in an attempt to prevent his impeachment by state lawmakers.
Nwaeke further alleged that the governor had financially sponsored the destruction of the Assembly building.
In response to the accusations, Fubara’s Special Adviser on Electronic Media, Jerry Omotsegunwa, dismissed Nwaeke’s claims as “laughable” and described the former HoS’s statements as “childish,” incoherent, and lacking credibility.
Omotsegunwa argued that the confessions were inconsistent and unsubstantiated, urging the public to disregard the allegations.
The drama unfolded when Nwaeke, speaking in a series of videos, claimed to have witnessed Fubara handing over a bag of money to his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, for the purpose of destroying the Assembly complex.
However, both Fubara and Ehie vehemently denied the claims, with Ehie suggesting that Nwaeke’s allegations were the result of being under the influence at the time.
On Wednesday, April 2, Okocha, a prominent ally of former Governor Nyesom Wike, expressed his belief that Nwaeke’s statements could not be easily dismissed, given his position as the state’s third-highest official at the time.
Okocha argued that the revelation added credibility to the APC’s position on the matter, which had long accused Fubara and Ehie of being responsible for the Assembly attack.
"Nwaeke’s account further corroborates the position of Rivers APC that Fubara is the architect of the entire political crisis in the state, His actions led to the swift declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu to restore order and prevent further chaos," Okocha stated.
Okocha also took the opportunity to reiterate the APC's stance that significant resources had been wasted under Fubara's administration, particularly amid the global economic downturn.
Referring to a Supreme Court judgment delivered in February 2025, which described Fubara as a "dictator," Okocha emphasised that taxpayers’ money had been mismanaged and squandered during the governor's tenure.
While the APC leader called for security agencies to investigate the allegations and bring those responsible to justice, he also condemned what he termed as attempts to silence Nwaeke for speaking out.
"The verbal attacks against the former HoS will not deter us. We remain committed to exposing the rot within Fubara’s administration," Okocha added, reinforcing the party’s role as a watchdog of governance in the state.
However, Fubara’s aide, Omotsegunwa, continued to denounce Nwaeke’s allegations, describing the videos as unreliable and inconsistent.
He pointed out contradictions in Nwaeke’s story, with the former HoS first claiming to have been present at a meeting with the governor and Chief of Staff, and later changing his account, suggesting he was not there at all. Omotsegunwa further mocked the idea of an investigation based on what he called “phantom” claims, including a supposed missing N16 billion.
"The allegations are a fabrication, and they do not stand up to scrutiny, How can anyone take these contradictory confessions seriously?" Omotsegunwa further stated.
Rivers Political Turmoil: Ex-HoS refutes kidnapping claim as Fubara dismisses bombing allegation
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that former Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, refuted his wife’s claims that he was kidnapped, stating that she was misled into reading a scripted statement.
Nwaeke’s wife publicly called on the governor for help, fearing that her husband was under duress and unable to speak freely.
