Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has leveled serious allegations against Judith Amaechi, wife of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, accusing her of misappropriating N48 billion in Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) funds intended for women’s empowerment programs.
The Allegations
During an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today,’ Wike claimed that Amaechi’s wife receives N4 billion monthly from the NDDC over 12 months, totaling N48 billion annually, supposedly for mobilizing and training Niger Delta women.
“Amaechi’s wife collects N4 billion monthly from NNDC for 12 months to mobilise Niger Delta women,” Wike stated. “I ask Mr. President to release the forensic audit of the NDDC and to make Amaechi’s wife explain how she spent N4 billion naira on training Niger Delta women.”
Political Context
The accusations emerged during a broader political dispute between the two former governors of Rivers State. Amaechi had previously claimed seniority over Wike, demanding respect based on age and political experience. Wike dismissed this assertion, arguing that respect should be earned through integrity rather than age.
“You should be respected because of the integrity you have and the honor you have, not because you are 200 years old,” Wike responded. “He cannot claim to be older than me just because he was governor before me.”
Personal Attacks and Responses
Wike questioned Judith Amaechi’s claimed status as an “industrialist,” asking, “When did your wife become an industrialist? Which company does she own?” He criticized Amaechi for allegedly using his wife’s business activities for political purposes.
“So unfortunate that a former governor will say that because my wife is a trader, therefore, she is an industrialist,” Wike said. “If you love your wife, why would you bring her up in this kind of discussion?”
Call for Transparency
The FCT Minister called on President Bola Tinubu to release the long-awaited NDDC forensic audit report, suggesting it contains evidence supporting his allegations. He claimed that former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami had suppressed the report.
“It was [former Attorney-General] Malami that killed that report. That’s how Amaechi’s wife became an industrialist; four billion naira every month to train Niger Delta women,” Wike revealed.
Previous Denials
Similar allegations have surfaced before. In 2021, the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), founded by Dame Judith Amaechi, strongly denied reports linking her to a phantom N48 billion NDDC contract scam. ESI spokesperson Roland Evukowhiroro dismissed the claims as “pure fiction” and a “malicious hatchet job.”
“This isn’t journalism; it’s character assassination,” Evukowhiroro stated at the time, emphasizing that ESI has legitimately transformed thousands of Niger Delta lives through skills training and healthcare programs since 2008. The organization maintained that Dame Amaechi founded ESI to fight poverty and illiteracy through partnerships, not contracts.
The political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi continues to intensify, with both sides trading accusations and counter-accusations in what appears to be an escalating public feud.
