Dame Judith Amaechi has strongly denied an allegation by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accusing her and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) of receiving ₦4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The rebuttal, issued by her media assistant Dike Bekwele on Tuesday, described Wike’s claim as “utterly baseless,” “untrue,” and an “attempt to score cheap political goals.”

Earlier in July, Wike accused Judith Amaechi—the wife of former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi—of diverting ₦4 billion allegedly allocated for women’s training programmes in the Niger Delta.

Wike made the claim during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while discussing his protracted political feud with Amaechi, his predecessor as governor of Rivers State.

Reacting to Wike’s comments, Bekwele said the accusation has “jostled well-meaning Nigerians” and prompted calls for clarification.

“In one of his rather cyclic, hysteric, poor and recurring live television outings, Nyesom Wike, in his habitual manner, accused Dame Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) of receiving four billion naira (₦4,000,000,000.00) monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC,” the statement read.

“We would have ignored the Minister’s ranting as it is a mere blackmail intended to undermine the reputation and integrity of Her Excellency and the ESI, but it is imperative to state the obvious in the interest of right-thinking Nigerian citizens.”

“No Truth in ₦4 Billion Claim”

The statement categorically dismissed the allegation as false.

“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 four billion naira monthly payments (₦4,000,000,000.00) from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC,” it said.

It explained that ESI is a non-governmental organisation incorporated in 2011, and that its collaboration with the NDDC was based on a memorandum of understanding to jointly fund human capacity development programmes.

Bekwele said, “The partnership has been successfully executed since its commencement to the satisfaction of both Empowerment Support Initiative (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 added, “Quite contrary to the falsehood concocted and diffused by Mr. Nyesom Wike, the counterpart funding between the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) and the NDDC is in public glare for scrutiny.”

No Indictment in Forensic Audit Report

Addressing Wike’s claim that the ESI or Dame Amaechi was indicted in the yet-to-be-published forensic audit report of the NDDC, the statement said, “It is both absurd, baseless, and a mere figment of Mr. Wike’s imaginations.”

It added that ESI’s work in vocational training and skills acquisition has supported middle-level manpower needs across the Niger Delta.

Wike Dared to Publish Report or Resign

Bekwele challenged the FCT Minister to make the alleged report public.

“We, therefore, challenge Mr. Wike to make public his version of the forensic audit report on the Niger Delta Development Commission where either Dame Judith Amaechi or the ESI were indicted,” Bekwele said.

“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.”

“Stop Bringing Nigeria’s Image to Disrepute”

The statement concluded with a warning to Wike, saying, “May we advise Mr. Wike to stop bringing the country’s image to disrepute as his uncouth and uncultured attitude is capable of undermining and under-marketing the nation’s effort at attracting foreign investors into the country.”