Amaechi’s Wife Challenges Wike’s N48 Billion NDDC Contract Allegation

Judith Amaechi, wife of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed claims made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Wike had accused Mrs Amaechi of receiving N4 billion every month from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) through her non-profit organisation.

The minister made the allegation during a recent interview on Channels Television, where he claimed the funds were sent to Judith Amaechi’s NGO and called on President Bola Tinubu to publish the NDDC’s forensic audit report.

Wike went as far as saying he would resign as FCT minister if his claims weren’t reflected in the report.

Mrs. Amaechi, in a statement by her media aide Dr. Dike Bekwele, denied the accusation and challenged Wike to publicly release any audit report that shows she or her NGO, the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), was involved in any wrongdoing.

She described Wike’s comments as baseless and misleading, accusing him of spreading falsehoods for political reasons.

‘Our attention has been drawn to a live television interview wherein a wild and unfounded allegation of corruption was made against Dame Judith Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) by Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

“In one of his rather cyclic, hysteric, poor and recurring live television outings, Nyesom Wike, in his habitual manner, accused Dame Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) of receiving N4bn monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC; a report that has jostled well meaning Nigerians and has elicited calls and inquiry about the veracity of this story.

“We would have ignored the minister’s ranting as it is a mere blackmail intended to undermine the reputation and integrity of Her Excellency and the ESI.

“It is, however, imperative to state the obvious in the interest of right-thinking Nigerian citizens,” the statement read.

Judith Amaechi described Wike’s comments as baseless and misleading, accusing him of spreading falsehoods for political reasons.

She said the forensic audit report cited by Wike has not been made public, which made any claims of indictment against her or the ESI baseless.

“It is both absurd and a mere figment of Mr. Wike’s imagination,” the statement reads.

“There is absolutely no iota of veracity in the allegation made by Mr. Wike against Dame Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI). Dame Amaechi did not and has never received FOUR BILLION NAIRA monthly payments (₦4,000,000,000.00) from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

“Quite contrary to the falsehood concocted and diffused by Mr. Nyesom Wike, the counterpart funding between the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) and the NDDC is in the public glare for scrutiny.

“It will be preposterous for Wike to allege that the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) or Dame Judith Amaechi was indicted in the NDDC forensic audit report which has not been published to the Nigerian Public. It is both absurd, baseless, and a mere figment of Mr. Wike’s imaginations.

“We expect that Minister Nyesom Wike will remain patient to his prayers answered on the unpublished NDDC forensic audit report, than to engage and indulge in media trials on a Live National telecast.

“We, therefore, challenge Mr. Wike to make public his version of the forensic audit report on the Niger Delta Development Commission where either Dame Judith Amaechi or the ESI were indicted.

“In the likely event that Wike fails to provide such a report, then we challenge Mr. Wike to actuate his boast and make bold to tender his resignation as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, forthwith with an unreserved apology to the Nation.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Rotimi Amaechi also dismissed allegations by Nyesom Wike, saying he won’t stoop low to respond to childish provocations.