Dame Judith Amaechi Debunks Wikes N4b Monthly NDDC Allegation
Oru Leonard
Dame Judith Amaechi, through her media Assistant Dike Bekwele, has vehemently denied allegations made by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing her and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) of receiving N4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Wike who was Governor of Rivers State in Nigeria between 2015 to 2023, made the allegations during a live national television interview, sparking widespread concern among Nigerians about the veracity of the claim.
Bekwele described Wike’s allegations as “utterly baseless” and “falsehood,” stating that neither Dame Amaechi nor ESI has ever received such payments. He emphasized that ESI, a non-governmental organization incorporated in 2011, has a legitimate partnership with NDDC to jointly fund human capacity programs and support entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region.
“ESI and NDDC have a reciprocal partnership to support youths and women in the Niger Delta region.
Bekwele explained and dismissed Wike’s claim that Dame Amaechi and ESI were indicted in the NDDC forensic audit report, calling it “absurd” and “baseless” since the report has not been published.
Bekwele challenged Wike to make public the forensic audit report or resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory with an unreserved apology to the nation.
This development highlights the ongoing political tensions and public scrutiny of government officials’ actions in Nigeria.
