The wife of former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, Judith Amaechi, has firmly denied claims by Nyesom Wike that she received N4bn monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) through her NGO, the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI).
Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, made the allegation during a live television interview. He also challenged President Bola Tinubu to publish the NDDC forensic audit report and said he would resign if his claim was not reflected in it.
Amaechi’s response
Through her media aide Dike Bekwele, Mrs Amaechi issued a statement on Tuesday describing the allegation as false and baseless.
“We therefore challenge Mr Wike to make public his version of the forensic audit report on the NDDC, where Dame Judith Amaechi or the ESI were indicted,” the statement said.
It added, “In the likely event that Wike fails to provide such report, then we challenge Mr Wike to actuate his boast and tender his resignation as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, forthwith with an unreserved apology to the nation.”
Allegation dismissed
The statement described Wike’s comments as “wild and unfounded” and said the claims were nothing but media blackmail aimed at undermining Mrs Amaechi’s reputation.
“There is absolutely no iota of veracity in the allegation made by Mr Wike against Dame Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI),” it said.
ESI’s record explained
According to the statement, the Empowerment Support Initiative was incorporated in 2011 with the Corporate Affairs Commission and has worked legitimately with partners including the NDDC to support youth and women empowerment programmes.
“This partnership has been successfully executed to the satisfaction of both the ESI and the NDDC,” it noted, insisting that counterpart funding is open for public scrutiny.
The statement described Wike’s claim as a mere figment of imagination, adding that his attitude risks damaging the country’s image.
“His uncouth and uncultured attitude is capable of undermining and under‑marketing the nation’s effort at attracting foreign investors,” it concluded.
