Former NSIPA CEO Halima Shehu Denies ₦44bn Diversion Allegation, Calls for Release of Investigation Findings
Former NSIPA CEO Halima Shehu Denies ₦44bn Diversion Allegation, Calls for Release of Investigation Findings
Former NSIPA CEO Halima Shehu Denies ₦44bn Diversion Allegation, Calls for Release of Investigation Findings
Former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has denied allegations that she diverted ₦44 billion, insisting that no public funds were transferred to her personal account.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Shehu maintained that she neither authorised nor benefited from the transactions under investigation, while calling for the findings of ongoing investigations into the agency to be made public.
She disclosed that shortly after assuming office, she observed what she described as weak financial controls within the agency and subsequently reported the alleged irregularities to the then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, as well as relevant anti-corruption agencies.
According to Shehu, she raised concerns over financial transactions allegedly carried out without her approval, claiming that some programme managers appointed by the ministry operated outside the agency’s established administrative framework.
“There were movements of funds that I didn’t give approval for, didn’t authorise and didn’t consent to,” she said, alleging that the transactions were executed without her knowledge.
The former NSIPA boss further stated that she formally petitioned both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged financial irregularities before her suspension in December 2023.
She claimed that rather than being protected after reporting the alleged misconduct, she was removed from office about 10 weeks after escalating the matter.
Rejecting allegations of diverting ₦44 billion, Shehu maintained that investigators did not trace any public funds to her personal accounts or those of her family members.
“I never transferred ₦44 billion to any personal account. The EFCC never recovered a penny from my account, my family’s account or any friend’s account,” she stated.
She explained that the financial transactions under scrutiny involved payments made to licensed service providers and financial institutions responsible for disbursing funds to beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s social intervention programmes.
According to her, she cooperated fully with investigators throughout the inquiry and submitted relevant documents and evidence in support of her position.
Shehu appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the outcome of investigations into the agency is made public, saying transparency would help clear her name.
“My integrity is my asset. I may have made administrative mistakes, but I am not corrupt and I did not take funds meant for poor and vulnerable Nigerians,” she said.
Her comments come amid ongoing investigations and public scrutiny surrounding the management of Nigeria’s social investment programmes under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
Former NSIPA CEO Halima Shehu Denies ₦44bn Diversion Allegation, Calls for Release of Investigation Findings
