Fubara’s Chief of Staff sues Rivers ex-HoS, Channels TV for N2b over alleged defamation

Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the embattled Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has taken legal action against former Head of Civil Service, George Nwaeke, and Channels Television over what he describes as a damaging and false accusation.

Ehie is seeking N2 billion in damages in a defamation suit filed after Nwaeke, during a Channels TV interview on March 29, allegedly accused him of orchestrating the 2023 fire incident that razed the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.

In the suit, Ehie insists the allegation is entirely false and baseless, and has caused significant harm to his reputation and public image. The broadcast, according to him, has not only subjected him to public ridicule but also injured his integrity and character.

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“An order for immediate retraction of the said publication and an apology to the claimant by the defendants for the said invidious and libelous publication forthwith and same to be widely publicized in the second defendant’s (Channels TV) television network, another television network and two newspapers with nationwide leadership in Nigeria,” part of the court documents reads.

Ehie prayed the court to issue an order restraining the defendants from further publishing or circulating any malicious information against him.

He asked the court to award him N2 billion as general damages against the defendants.

On Monday, Jumbo Stephens, a judge at the high court in Port Harcourt, ruled that Nwaeke be served the originating processes in the suit via substituted means.

The judge ruled that the processes should be pasted at the first defendant’s residence in Port Harcourt and published in a national newspaper.

In October 2023, fire razed a section of the Rivers state house of assembly complex in Port Harcourt.

The fire incident occurred as Rivers lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory, plotted to initiate impeachment proceedings against Fubara.

The feud between Fubara and Wike polarised the state’s parliament and sparked a political crisis.

Owing to the crisis, President Bola Tinubu on March 18 declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.

The president had suspended Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers assembly for six months.

Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral, was appointed as the sole administrator.

In March, Nwaeke claimed that Fubara directed Ehie to burn down the Rivers house of assembly.

He alleged that he was at the government house “when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation, though I do not know the amount inside”.