Former National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Halima Shehu, has denied allegations that she transferred ₦44 billion into private accounts, insisting the money was disbursed to beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s social intervention programmes through approved payment channels.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Monday, Shehu said she had reported alleged financial irregularities within the agency to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before her suspension in January 2024.
According to Shehu, she submitted a detailed petition to the EFCC chairman on 21 December 2023, outlining what she described as violations of financial regulations within NSIPA.
“When the matters were above me, the financial control violations were above me, I called on the EFCC chairman while I was in office,” she said.
She explained that the letter, addressed to President Bola Tinubu, detailed how funds were allegedly being moved from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account without proper financial controls.
Shehu also disclosed that she met with the ICPC chairman to report the alleged addition of unauthorised signatories to the agency’s bank accounts without her approval.
Expressing disappointment over the outcome, she said none of the anti-graft agencies responded to her whistleblowing before she was suspended just 10 weeks later.
“I thought I was supposed to be honoured for the proactive measures I took. I thought I was supposed to be protected,” she said.
Responding to allegations that ₦44 billion was transferred into personal accounts, Shehu maintained that the funds were paid to licensed payment service providers, commercial banks and microfinance banks responsible for distributing Conditional Cash Transfer funds to beneficiaries.
She said the payment system was already in place before she assumed office and that none of the contractors handling the payments were appointed by her.
“On the day my suspension came, the monies had gone into the accounts of the payment service providers, which were existing contractors of the ministry. Their contracts had not expired. I did not contract any one of them,” she said.
Shehu also dismissed reports that the EFCC recovered any money from her or her associates.
She added that her only objective was to ensure social intervention funds reached the intended beneficiaries, claiming that funds had previously been leaving government accounts without reaching those they were meant to support.
The former NSIPA boss has also written to President Bola Tinubu, requesting the release of the EFCC’s investigation report into the allegations against her.
