Mrs. Judith Amaechi, wife of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, has strongly denied allegations by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike that she received N4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) through her non-governmental organisation, Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI).
In a sharply worded statement released on Tuesday by her media aide, Dr. Dike Bekwele, Mrs. Amaechi challenged Wike to publicly release the forensic audit report of the NDDC that allegedly implicates her or her NGO. She also demanded that Wike resign and tender an unreserved apology to the nation if no such evidence exists.
“We challenge Mr. Wike to make public his version of the forensic audit report on the Niger Delta Development Commission where Dame Judith Amaechi or the ESI were indicted,” the statement said. “If he fails to do so, he must honour his own words and resign from office.”
Wike had made the explosive allegation during an interview on Channels Television, claiming that Mrs. Amaechi received N4 billion monthly from the NDDC during her husband’s tenure. He further urged President Bola Tinubu to publish the commission’s forensic audit report and pledged to step down as minister if his claim was untrue.
Reacting to the claim, Mrs. Amaechi described the allegation as “wild, unfounded, and politically motivated.”
“This is nothing short of blackmail intended to tarnish the image of Her Excellency and discredit the work of ESI,” the statement read. “Wike’s utterances are typical of his media theatrics, made without regard for factual accuracy or the decency expected of a public official.”
The statement urged the public to disregard the minister’s comments and accused Wike of engaging in a media trial instead of waiting for the official release of the audit report.
“Rather than indulge in sensationalism on live TV, Mr. Wike should await the publication of the report he so passionately referenced,” the statement concluded.
The face-off adds a new layer of political tension in Rivers State, where both parties—former allies turned rivals—have frequently clashed over issues of governance, political control, and public accountability.
For now, the nation awaits the publication of the NDDC forensic audit report to verify the truth or falsehood behind one of the most controversial corruption claims in the Niger Delta region.
