A civil society organisation has demanded an urgent and impartial investigation into claims that four suspects arrested in connection with the 2023 Rivers State Assembly fire are being pressured to falsely implicate Edison Ehie, the chief of staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The group, Citizens for Justice and Accountability in Governance (CJAG), described the revelations by the suspects — Chime Ezebalike, Kenneth Kpasa, MacPherson Olumini, and Oladele Lukman — as evidence of a disturbing attempt to manipulate the justice system and escalate the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
In a statement issued on Friday, CJAG president, Stephen Emmanuel, said the suspects’ accounts of their treatment while in custody — including alleged blindfolding, illegal detention, bribe offers, and threats — raise serious concerns about due process and human rights.
“This is no longer about arson. It is now a deliberate effort to destroy reputations, mislead security agencies, and distort public perception for political ends,” the group said. “How can anyone, in good conscience, fabricate allegations involving murder, attempted assassination, and arson simply to settle political scores? This is criminal and must be prosecuted.”
CJAG said it is petitioning the Attorney-General of the Federation and the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the arrests and the alleged coercion of the suspects. It also urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure the law is not weaponised for political vendettas.
“The state cannot allow powerful individuals to twist the law to silence critics or destroy opponents,” Emmanuel said. “If this is part of a conspiracy to frame Edison Ehie or sabotage Governor Fubara, those behind it must be exposed and held accountable.”
The group further called on the Inspector-General of Police to order an internal review of the Federal Intelligence Response Team’s role in the matter. “The Nigerian public deserves to know whether law enforcement is serving the nation or being used as pawns in political chess games,” the statement read.
CJAG also condemned the growing politicisation of the Rivers crisis, warning that continued tensions could threaten broader national stability. “This issue transcends Rivers State. It is about justice, accountability, and the very soul of our democracy,” Emmanuel said.
The group concluded by urging civil society organisations, religious leaders, and the international community to pay closer attention to developments in the state, warning that silence in the face of impunity only emboldens those intent on subverting justice.
