Judith Amaechi, wife of former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed claims by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike that she received ₦4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for women’s empowerment programs.
She labelled Wike’s allegations as “absurd,” “baseless,” and a “subtle blackmail” aimed at political gain.
Wike, in an interview earlier in July 2025, said Judith was receiving ₦4 billion monthly, totalling ₦48 billion, for the training of Niger Delta women.
He also suggested her indictment in an NDDC corruption probe.
In a statement released yesterday by her spokesperson, Dike Bekwele, Judith directly refuted these accusations.
The statement clarified that “Dame Amaechi did not and has never received four billion naira monthly payments from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.”
The statement further explained that the partnership between Amaechi’s Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) and the NDDC was a “reciprocal” arrangement, designed for jointly funding human capacity development, training for youth and women, and supporting entrepreneurs across the Niger Delta.
Judith’s camp also challenged Wike’s claim of her indictment in an NDDC forensic audit report, stressing that the report itself has not been publicly released.
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The statement read, “It will be preposterous for Wike to allege that the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) or Dame Judith Amaechi was indicted in the NDDC forensic audit report, which has not been published to the Nigerian Public. It is both absurd, baseless, and a mere figment of Mr. Wike’s imagination.”
In a direct challenge, Judith dared Wike to publicly release his version of the NDDC forensic audit report containing any indictment against her or the ESI.
The statement demands: “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.”
The escalating war of words is the latest in a series of public disagreements between Wike and Rotimi Amaechi, who both previously served as governors of oil-rich Rivers State.
Amaechi governed from 2007 to 2015, succeeded by Wike, who also served two terms.
Their once-close political relationship has since deteriorated, leading to frequent public exchanges.
