The wife of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Judith Amaechi, has strongly denied claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that she was receiving N4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission.
Wike had made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television, where he accused Mrs Amaechi and her NGO, Empowerment Support Initiative, of collecting the huge monthly sum from the NDDC. He also challenged President Bola Tinubu to publish the forensic audit report on the agency, saying if his claim was not in the report, he would resign.
In reaction, Mrs Amaechi, through her media aide, Dr Dike Bekwele, described the statement as false, wild and baseless. She challenged Wike to make his version of the forensic audit report public.
“We therefore 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 read.
The statement added, “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 as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, forthwith with an unreserved apology to the nation.”
Mrs Amaechi said the attack on her image was an act of blackmail meant to mislead the public.
“Our attention has been drawn to a live television interview wherein a wild and unfounded allegation of corruption was made against Dame Judith Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) by Nyesom Ezenwo Wike,” the statement continued.
“It is, however, imperative to state the obvious in the interest of right-thinking Nigerian citizens,” it added.
The statement said Wike made the claims without proof and only to gain political points.
“For the records, and in debunking these falsehoods, we wish to dismiss the allegations as untrue and categorically state the following: There is absolutely no iota of veracity in the allegation made by Mr Wike against Dame Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI). Dame Amaechi did not and has never received N4bn from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.”
It also said the NGO, Empowerment Support Initiative, was set up in 2011 and had a clear partnership with the NDDC to train and empower young people and women in the Niger Delta.
“This partnership has been successfully executed since its commencement to the satisfaction of both the ESI and the NDDC, with numerous youths and women within the Niger Delta region benefitting from the scheme for self-reliance and sustainability.”
The statement stressed that there was no evidence to support Wike’s claims, especially since the forensic audit report has not been made public.
“It will be preposterous for Wike to allege that the Empowerment Support Initiative or Dame Judith Amaechi was indicted in the NDDC forensic audit report, which has not been published to the Nigerian public.”
Mrs Amaechi said Wike’s constant public outbursts and unguarded words were 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,” the statement said.
