By Bukola Kayode
Mrs Judith Amaechi, wife of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, has responded to allegations raised by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike during a TV interview.
Wike alleged that Mrs. Amaechi’s organisation, the Empowerment Support Initiative, received ₦4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The Minister further alleged that the funds were being paid to ESI as part of a long-standing arrangement with the NDDC.
Reacting to the allegation in a statement issued on Tuesday Mrs Amaechi described Wike’s claims as “false and baseless,” insisting that neither she nor ESI had ever received such funds from the interventionist agency.
The statement read in part: “The allegation that ESI receives ₦4 billion monthly from NDDC is completely untrue. ESI was established in 2011 as a duly incorporated non-governmental organisation focused on empowering youths and women through skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development.
The statement further said the collaboration with the NDDC is based on signed Memoranda of Understanding for jointly funding human capacity development, vocational training, and entrepreneurial support for women and youths in the Niger Delta region.
“These partnerships are transparent and open to public scrutiny. Since inception, our programmes have provided empowerment for thousands of beneficiaries,” the statement read.
The statement further described the alleged indictment in the forensic audit as “a mere figment of imagination,” stressing that ESI maintains a strong commitment to accountability and sustainable development.
“These initiatives have empowered thousands of beneficiaries and are open to public scrutiny,” the statement read.
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