ABUJA —
Dame Judith Amaechi, wife of former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has denied allegations made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that she collected ₦4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for empowerment programmes.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by her media aide, Dike Bekwele, Mrs. Amaechi described Wike’s claims as “baseless, false, and aimed at tarnishing her image for political gain.”
Wike’s Allegation
Wike had alleged during a live television appearance that Mrs. Amaechi received ₦4 billion monthly from the NDDC, alleging mismanagement of the funds. He also urged President Bola Tinubu to release the long-awaited forensic audit report of the commission.
Amaechi’s Response
Reacting to these claims, Mrs. Amaechi insisted that she never received such payments either personally or through her non-governmental organization, the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI).
- “There is absolutely no iota of truth in the allegation made by Mr. Wike against Dame Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative. She did not and has never received ₦4 billion monthly from the NDDC,” the statement read.
Mrs. Amaechi clarified that ESI, founded in 2011, has only worked with development agencies, including the NDDC, under verifiable memoranda of understanding to empower youths and women in the Niger Delta through entrepreneurial and vocational training. These collaborations, she said, have been transparent and publicly documented.
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On the Forensic Audit Report
Mrs. Amaechi also dismissed claims that she was indicted in the forensic audit of the NDDC, noting that the report has not been officially published.
- “It is preposterous for Wike to allege any indictment in a report that has not been made public. This is merely a figment of his imagination,” the statement added.
She challenged Wike to produce any evidence from the audit report implicating her or ESI. In the absence of such proof, she called on him to retract the allegation, issue a public apology, and resign his ministerial position.
Final Words to Wike
“We advise Mr. Wike to refrain from making false and inflammatory statements that bring Nigeria’s image to disrepute. Such conduct is harmful to the country’s reputation, especially as we seek to attract foreign investment,” she concluded.
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