Halima Shehu Denies ₦44bn Diversion, Says She Reported Financial Irregularities Before Suspension
Former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has dismissed allegations that she diverted ₦44 billion, insisting that no funds were ever transferred into her personal account and that she had reported alleged financial misconduct within the agency to anti-graft agencies before she was suspended.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Monday, Shehu said she resumed office in October 2023 with extensive knowledge of the social investment programmes, having previously played a key role in the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) initiative and the establishment of the ministry.
She explained that upon assuming office, she uncovered what she described as weak financial controls and unauthorized movements of funds, prompting her to begin an internal review and notify the then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, as well as the ministry’s Permanent Secretary.
According to Shehu, she raised concerns that financial transactions were being carried out without her approval as the agency’s chief executive and alleged that programme managers appointed by the minister bypassed her office entirely.
She further claimed that she reported the alleged violations to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 21, 2023, before her suspension, submitting documents detailing what she described as breaches of financial regulations. She also said she informed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) about the issues.
Rejecting claims that she diverted ₦44 billion, Shehu maintained that investigators never traced any illicit funds to her or her associates.
“I never transferred ₦44 billion to any personal account. I never did, and I stand by that. The EFCC never recovered a penny from my personal account, or from my family’s, or from any of my friends’ accounts,” she said.
She explained that the funds in question were transferred to licensed payment service providers and financial institutions responsible for disbursing social intervention funds to beneficiaries, in line with programme guidelines.
Shehu also said she cooperated fully with the EFCC’s investigation and described herself as a whistleblower who supplied the commission with documents and evidence while still in office.
“The EFCC investigated me. I helped them to do their job while I was in office. I did a whistleblowing. I gave them documents and I gave them facts,” she stated.
Expressing disappointment over the outcome of her petitions, the former NSIPA boss questioned why her reports did not receive the attention she expected, despite being the first to alert authorities to the alleged financial irregularities.
She disclosed that after receiving no response from the EFCC, she wrote to the commission, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and President Bola Tinubu, seeking intervention.
Appealing directly to the President, Shehu called for an independent review of the allegations against her, insisting that while administrative lapses may have occurred, she was not involved in corruption.
“My integrity is my asset. I am not corrupt, and I did not take the funds of the poor and vulnerable for myself or for anyone. I plead with the President to intervene and let them clear my name,” she said.
The allegations against Shehu remain part of ongoing public discussions surrounding the management of Nigeria’s social investment programmes, while relevant authorities have yet to issue fresh responses to the claims she raised during the interview.
