It’s Absurd Blackmail by Wike, Says Amaechi’s Wife as She Denies ₦4bn NDDC Contract Allegation 

Judith Amaechi, wife of the former Minister of Transportation and ex-governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has strongly denied allegations made by the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that she received ₦4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the guise of women empowerment and training.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Mrs. Amaechi described Wike’s claims as “absurd, baseless and politically motivated,” accusing the FCT Minister of engaging in deliberate blackmail aimed at tarnishing her reputation and discrediting her family’s legacy of public service.

“There is no truth whatsoever in the claim that I received ₦4 billion monthly from the NDDC,” she stated. “This is not just an attack on me but a calculated attempt to smear my name for cheap political gains. I challenge anyone with evidence of such transactions to come forward publicly.”

Wike, in a recent media appearance, had alleged that Mrs. Amaechi was a key beneficiary of the NDDC’s funds during her husband’s tenure as Minister of Transportation, claiming that she was under investigation for financial misconduct linked to the Commission.

He further implied that the said funds were funneled through empowerment programmes that were either fictitious or poorly executed.

But Mrs. Amaechi countered these accusations, asserting that neither she nor her non-profit organisation, the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), has ever been involved in corrupt practices or questionable financial dealings with the NDDC.

She noted that her activities in the non-profit sector were focused on genuine capacity building for women and youth in the Niger Delta region and had always been independently audited.

“This is a clear case of political vendetta,” she said. “My work through ESI has positively impacted the lives of thousands of women and girls across the region. It is unfortunate that such noble efforts are now being politicised and misrepresented.”

The renewed spat between Wike and the Amaechi family is the latest in a long history of political rivalry between the two former allies. Both men served back-to-back as governors of Rivers State Amaechi from 2007 to 2015, and Wike from 2015 to 2023.

Their once cordial relationship soured following internal party conflicts and alignments during the lead-up to the 2015 and 2023 general elections, turning them into arch-rivals.

Observers note that the recent exchange may be part of a broader political chess game ahead of the 2027 general elections, as both political figures continue to vie for influence in the volatile Niger Delta region.

Mrs. Amaechi has called on the relevant anti-corruption and oversight agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate the matter thoroughly and publicly clear her name. She also urged Nigerians not to be swayed by what she described as “a desperate attempt to rewrite history and distract from present governance failures.”

“As a woman, a mother, and a Nigerian committed to service, I will not be intimidated by baseless accusations. My conscience is clear, and I remain proud of my contributions to the development of our people,” she said.