Four individuals who were previously arrested in connection with the burning of 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 local government area of Rivers State, SP Bako Angbashim, have publicly denied any involvement in the crimes.
Chime Ezebalike, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Macpherson Olimini, and Prince Lookman Oladele were detained for several months at the Kuje Correctional Facility before being granted bail.
They had faced serious allegations linking them to the arson at the Rivers State Assembly complex and other high-profile incidents.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, Ezebalike, who spoke on behalf of the group, alleged that certain political figures loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, attempted to bribe them with large sums of money and an all-expense-paid trip to Ghana for them and their families.
The aim, according to Ezebalike, was to coerce them into “falsely implicating” Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in the Assembly fire incident.
Ezebalike revealed that after enduring torture and inhumane treatment during their detention, they believed their ordeal had ended.
However, he alleged that just weeks ago, a top political figure from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area invited one of them with the intent of luring them into making fresh confessions to align with recent allegations made by former Head of Service in the state, Geroge Nweke.
Ezebalike emphasized that the press briefing was not merely to recount their personal experiences, but to issue a call for justice and to prevent the abuse of power.
He insisted that no youth in Rivers State should ever have to endure the “torment and unlawful treatment” they suffered.
The group also appealed to civil society organizations, human rights groups, and advocates for justice to support them and resist any attempt to use the security apparatus for political witch-hunts against innocent citizens.
