Amaechi’s Wife’s Company Got N4bn Monthly, Tinubu Should Release NDDC Audit Report —Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired back at his predecessor and former ally, Rotimi Amaechi, challenging his credibility and calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the long-suppressed forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Wike made the call on Friday during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, a day after Amaechi appeared on the same platform, where he downplayed Wike’s political relevance and dared him to undertake a popularity walk from Abuja to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

In his sharp rebuttal, Wike ridiculed the former transportation minister’s remarks, stating that popularity isn’t proven by publicity stunts but by one’s record, integrity, and service to the people.

“He [Amaechi] cannot demand respect merely because he served before me or is older,” Wike said. “You should be respected because of your honour and integrity, not because you are 200 years old.”

One of Wike’s most explosive claims was targeted at Amaechi’s wife, Judith Amaechi, whom the former minister described as an industrialist. Wike dismissed this as false and accused her of benefiting massively and questionably from NDDC funds.

“First of all, Amaechi’s wife was not an industrialist at the time, to the best of my knowledge,” Wike stated. “Let Mr President release the NDDC forensic audit report. Through a company linked to her, N4 billion was allegedly received monthly under the pretense of training Niger Delta women. That’s N48 billion a year.”

The forensic audit, commissioned during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, was designed to uncover misappropriations, contract frauds, and mismanagement within the NDDC from 2001 to August 2019. But despite the completion of the audit, the report has not been made public.

Wike alleged that the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, deliberately buried the report to shield high-profile individuals, including those “now preaching about coalitions.”

“Who killed the report? It was Malami. He killed that document to protect those concerned,” Wike alleged. “This is why I am urging Mr. President to do Nigerians a favour—release the report.”

Doubling down on his claims, Wike said he would willingly vacate his office as FCT Minister if the forensic audit report fails to substantiate his allegations.

“If what I’m saying is not in that report, I will resign. I do not worship any office,” Wike declared. “I didn’t say the forensic audit was right or wrong—I’m simply saying, make it public and let Nigerians judge for themselves.”

Reacting to Amaechi’s insinuation that Wike’s political career was built under his wings, the FCT Minister refuted any notion that he was a political creation of the former governor.

“I want to say, with due respect, that I never knew Rotimi from Adams,” Wike stated. “In 1998, I contested and won one of Nigeria’s most respected local government chairmanships—Obio/Akpor. My political journey started long before Amaechi entered my space.”

Wike, who served as Chief of Staff under Amaechi and later as Minister of State for Education before becoming Governor of Rivers State, said Amaechi’s attempt to discredit him shows desperation and a refusal to accept his own diminishing political relevance.

“He says I’m not relevant politically, but he’s the one who lost control of his state, couldn’t deliver a councillor, and still talks about respect. You earn it. You don’t command it.”

The fiery exchange between the two Rivers-born political heavyweights marks yet another chapter in their long-standing rivalry, which has escalated from a quiet estrangement to open political warfare since Wike emerged as one of the most influential figures in President Tinubu’s cabinet.

With the forensic audit of the NDDC once again in the spotlight, calls for transparency and accountability around the commission’s operations are likely to intensify, especially amid Wike’s public ultimatum and challenge to the presidency.