Dame Judith Amaechi, wife of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed as “absurd and baseless” claims by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that she received ₦4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for women empowerment and training programmes.
Responding through her spokesperson, Dike Bekwele, Mrs Amaechi also denied being indicted in any corruption probe linked to the NDDC, challenging Wike to publish the forensic audit report he referenced.
“Dame Amaechi did not and has never received four billion naira monthly payments from the NDDC,” the statement said. “It is both absurd, baseless, and a mere figment of Mr. Wike’s imagination.”
According to the statement, the partnership between her non-governmental organisation, the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), and the NDDC was aimed at jointly funding youth and women empowerment programmes in the Niger Delta.
The controversy stems from recent remarks made by Wike in a media interview earlier this month, where he alleged that Mrs Amaechi received a total of ₦48 billion from the NDDC and had been indicted in its forensic audit report.
But Mrs Amaechi has demanded that Wike either publish evidence from the alleged report or resign from his ministerial position.
“In the likely event that Wike fails to provide such report, then we challenge Mr. Wike to actuate his boast and make bold to tender his resignation… with an unreserved apology to the nation,” the statement read.
The dispute highlights the deepening rift between the two former governors of Rivers State, once political allies but now bitter rivals, as the fallout from their prolonged feud continues to spill into the national arena.
