Activist Threatens Legal Action Against Former Rivers HoS Over Allegations Against Governor Fubara

A Port Harcourt-based activist and leader of the “Conscience of the Ogoni People,” Chief Gani Topba, has vowed to take legal action against Dr. George Nweke, the immediate past Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, over allegations of financial misappropriation and security threats directed at Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Dr. Nweke recently made startling claims, accusing the suspended governor of orchestrating the 2023 bombing of the State House of Assembly and allegedly plotting militant attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta to pressure the federal government.

Dismissing these allegations as baseless and malicious, Topba has given Nweke a seven-day ultimatum to issue a public apology or face a defamation lawsuit.

“I will not allow the former Head of Service to tarnish the reputation of my governor without consequences,” Topba stated. “I am certain Governor Fubara has no links to cultism or militancy. If Dr. Nweke fails to apologize publicly to the Governor and Nigerians, I will take him to court for defamation.”

Describing Governor Fubara as a peace-loving leader with no history of violence, Topba challenged Nweke to an open debate to substantiate his claims. 

He also questioned why Nweke chose to report his allegations to the DSS headquarters in Abuja instead of alerting security agencies in Rivers State when the alleged bomb plot was supposedly being planned.

“If Dr. Nweke truly had concerns, why didn’t he first report to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police or the State Director of DSS?” Topba asked. “He has no credibility. I know him well, and he cannot stand before me in a debate.”

Drawing comparisons to former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, Topba recalled Wike’s past controversial remarks, including his statement that election officials should “write their wills” before coming to the state.

“Everyone in Nigeria knows that Wike has a history of violent rhetoric,” he said. “But Governor Fubara has never associated himself with violence. Some people think they can make wild accusations and get away with it. Why?”

Topba maintained that Nweke must retract his statements, warning that failure to do so would result in legal action to protect the Governor’s reputation.