Ihunwo issues ultimatum to Nwaeke over ‘false and damaging’ Assembly bombing claims
EPICSTORIAN — Chijioke Ihunwo, former chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, has given ex-Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, a 48-hour deadline to retract allegations linking him to the Rivers State House of Assembly bombing.
He threatened that legal action will follow if an apology is not issued through national television and three newspapers.
Allegations in a Viral Video
A viral video filmed in an Abuja hotel showed Nwaeke claiming Ihunwo was involved in the bombing. Nwaeke also alleged that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara handed a bag of money to his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, who was with Ihunwo and two others at the Government House in Port Harcourt during the incident.
Ihunwo demands apology or legal action
Both Fubara and Ehie have dismissed these claims as false and misleading, suggesting that Nwaeke may have been financially influenced to make such accusations.
Obidinma Issues Legal Notice Over Defamation
Ihunwo’s lawyer, Obidinma C. Obidinma, described Nwaeke’s claims as defamatory and damaging. The legal notice emphasized that the false accusations, broadcast on national television, severely harmed Ihunwo’s reputation.
The letter states, “Our client’s reputation has been unjustly tainted before the citizens of Nigeria. A reputation once damaged cannot be easily restored.”
Political Career and Public Service
Ihunwo’s distinguished career in public service is also under scrutiny. As former chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State chapter, he led the organization for nearly five years, earning multiple awards for his leadership.
His exemplary leadership led to his appointment as Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government. Ihunwo was later elected the substantive chairman.
His tenure continued until a Supreme Court ruling on February 28, 2025, nullified the elections of all 23 local government chairmen in Rivers State.
“I was dedicated to my duties as chairman from the day I was sworn in until the Supreme Court ruling ended my tenure,” Ihunwo said.
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Ihunwo’s legal team has made it clear that legal proceedings will follow if Nwaeke does not retract his accusations within the 48-hour deadline.
