Wike Exposes Amaechi’s Wife Over N48billion Fraud
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has made explosive allegations against former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing his wife of benefitting from a N4 billion contract under the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He called for the immediate release of the long-awaited forensic audit report of the agency.
Speaking during a no-holds-barred interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Friday, Wike labelled Amaechi a “hypocrite,” insisting that his public posturing does not match his private dealings.
He claimed Amaechi’s wife, who he described as never having been an industrialist, received billions in contracts to train Niger Delta women through a company allegedly linked to her.
“Amaechi’s wife was never an industrialist—the best I know,” Wike declared. “Mr President should release the forensic audit of the NDDC. Her company got N4 billion to train Niger Delta women, and within one year, N48 billion was involved.”
According to Wike, the forensic audit report, commissioned under the previous administration to probe massive financial mismanagement within the NDDC, has been suppressed to shield powerful individuals.
He pointed fingers at former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, alleging that Malami buried the report to protect those implicated.
“Who killed the audit report? It was Malami, the Attorney General then,” Wike said. “If President Tinubu really wants to help Nigerians, let him release the forensic audit of the NDDC. If what I am saying is not in that document, I will resign as Minister of FCT. I don’t worship office.”
When asked by the programme’s anchor if it was a crime to secure a federal government contract, Wike fired back, highlighting the scale of the transaction: “Is it a crime to get a contract? N4 billion a month to train Niger Delta women? Let the document come out. I say again, let the president release that audit. That is how Amaechi’s wife became an industrialist.”
He also addressed Amaechi’s past claims of receiving a Rolls-Royce as a gift, using the opportunity to question the source of the luxury vehicle and link it to possible conflict of interest.
“He said someone gave him a Rolls-Royce. Who gave him? Senator John Mbata gave him. When? When Amaechi was governor,” Wike alleged.
Wike said Mbata, who was then chairman of Monak Construction Company (MCC), received a significant chunk—up to 60 percent—of state contracts in Rivers during Amaechi’s tenure.
“Monak was doing 60 percent of contracts in Rivers. In fact, he [Mbata] was the man Amaechi gave the contract to supply all the vehicles to take over transportation in the state. They were never supplied,” Wike claimed.
While acknowledging Senator Mbata’s past contributions to his own political growth, Wike clarified that personal gratitude would not stop him from calling out impropriety.
“I’ll never deny that he supported me politically. But when you see something that is wrong, it’s wrong.”
Wike also took personal swipes at Amaechi’s academic background, questioning his educational achievements and boasting of his own credentials from the University of Port Harcourt, which Amaechi also attended.
“He went to Rivers State University but couldn’t pass. He moved to UniPort. I’m an alumnus, and I’ll tell you the grade he came out with,” Wike teased, without revealing further details.
