By Emeka Blast 
Wike Questions Amaechi’s Wife’s Industrial Status, Demands NDDC Audit Disclosure
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike launched a scathing attack on his political rival, former Rivers State Governor and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing Amaechi’s wife, Judith Amaechi, of misappropriating ₦48 billion from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Wike challenged President Bola Tinubu to release the long-suppressed forensic audit report of the NDDC, vowing to resign as FCT Minister if the report does not substantiate his claims.
Wike alleged that a company linked to Judith Amaechi received ₦4 billion monthly from the NDDC under the guise of training Niger Delta women, totaling ₦48 billion annually. “Amaechi’s wife is not an industrialist. That’s why I call on Mr. President to release the forensic audit of the NDDC,” Wike stated, dismissing Amaechi’s claims that his wife is an industrialist. “Which industry does she own? She might be a trader, but not what he claims.” He further accused former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami of suppressing the audit to protect those implicated, urging transparency to expose financial mismanagement.
The NDDC forensic audit, initiated under former President Muhammadu Buhari, investigated the commission’s financial dealings and project execution from 2001 to August 2019. Wike’s allegations reignite scrutiny of the report, which has not been made public despite demands from various stakeholders, including Niger Delta women’s groups. Judith Amaechi, who heads the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), an NGO focused on HIV/AIDS advocacy and women’s rights, has previously faced similar accusations, including a 2021 claim of receiving ₦48 billion through her organization during Nelson Brambaifa’s tenure as NDDC Acting Managing Director.
Responding to Amaechi’s recent comments questioning Wike’s wealth and political seniority, Wike defended his background, stating, “I’m not a bush man. As a student, I was driving a Mercedes. My father has a mansion on Ikwerre Road.” He also accused Amaechi of accepting a Rolls-Royce as a bribe from a contractor, contrasting it with his own refusal to engage in such practices. Wike further questioned Amaechi’s academic credentials, claiming he failed to graduate from Rivers State University.
The feud, rooted in their long-standing political rivalry in Rivers State, has escalated ahead of the 2027 elections, with Amaechi recently resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to pursue a presidential bid under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Wike dismissed Amaechi’s political relevance, stating, “He was governor for eight years, minister for eight years, and now he wants to come back. You won’t come back.”
Wike’s bold challenge to resign if proven wrong underscores his confidence in the audit’s findings. “Let them release the document. If what I’m saying is not there, I will resign as FCT Minister,” he declared. As calls for transparency grow, all eyes are on President Tinubu to decide whether the NDDC audit will be made public, potentially reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape.
