Dame Judith Amaechi, wife of former transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi, has forcefully denied claims by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), that she received ₦4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
In a statement issued Tuesday by her media aide, Dike Bekwele, Dame Amaechi described the accusation as “wild, unfounded, and a figment of Wike’s imagination,” dismissing it as political blackmail aimed at tarnishing her image and discrediting her non-governmental organisation, the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI).
Earlier this month, Wike had called on President Bola Tinubu to publish the findings of the NDDC forensic audit, alleging that the report contained details implicating Dame Amaechi in fraudulent dealings with the commission. He also claimed the audit was suppressed to shield certain individuals from indictment.
Dame Amaechi, however, challenged Wike to release any document that substantiates his claims.
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“There is absolutely no iota of veracity in the allegation. Dame Amaechi did not and has never received ₦4 billion monthly from the NDDC,” the statement read.
According to her, ESI has operated transparently, with its collaboration with the NDDC open to public scrutiny. She insisted that no audit report—public or private—had ever implicated her or the organisation.
“It is preposterous for Wike to claim that ESI or I were indicted in a forensic audit report that hasn’t even been published,” she said.
The statement also criticised Wike’s remarks during a national broadcast, accusing him of resorting to media trials instead of presenting verifiable evidence.
Dame Amaechi went further, issuing a direct challenge: if Wike cannot make public the portion of the audit report that allegedly indicts her, then he should resign from office and offer a public apology.
“We challenge Mr. Wike to actuate his boast—publish the forensic audit report or resign as Minister of the FCT with an unreserved apology to the nation.”
