Former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has denied allegations that she diverted N44 billion, insisting that no public funds were ever transferred into her personal account or those of her relatives.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Shehu said she had alerted anti-graft agencies and relevant government authorities to alleged financial irregularities within the agency before her suspension in December 2023.
According to her, the allegations against her emerged after she reported what she described as serious breaches in the agency’s financial management processes shortly after assuming office.
She maintained that her actions were consistent with her responsibility as the head of the agency and were intended to protect public funds meant for vulnerable Nigerians benefiting from government social intervention programmes.
Whistleblower claims
Shehu explained that upon taking over the leadership of NSIPA, she discovered weaknesses in the agency’s financial control mechanisms and immediately raised concerns with the then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, as well as other relevant government officials.
According to her, she observed that certain financial transactions were being carried out without her approval or authorisation.
“There were movements of funds that I didn’t give approval for, didn’t authorise and didn’t consent to,” Shehu said during the interview.
She further alleged that several programme managers appointed by the minister were operating outside the agency’s established administrative and reporting structure, making it difficult to maintain proper financial oversight.
She said the situation prompted her to formally report the matter to anti-corruption agencies for investigation.
How I reported to anti-graft agencies – Ex-NSIPA boss
The former NSIPA chief disclosed that she submitted petitions to both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), detailing the alleged financial irregularities she had uncovered.
According to her, the petitions were submitted before she was removed from office.
Shehu argued that instead of receiving protection as someone who reported suspected financial misconduct, she was suspended barely 10 weeks after escalating the issues to the relevant authorities.
She described the development as disappointing, insisting that public officials who expose alleged wrongdoing should be encouraged rather than punished.
Denies N44bn diversion
Responding to allegations that she diverted N44 billion, Shehu firmly denied any involvement in the alleged misappropriation of public funds.
She insisted that investigators never recovered money from her bank accounts or traced any suspicious funds to members of her family or close associates.
“I never transferred N44 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.
According to her, the financial transactions currently under investigation were legitimate payments made to licensed financial institutions and service providers responsible for distributing government intervention funds to approved beneficiaries.
She maintained that such payments were part of the implementation process of social investment programmes and were not transfers into private accounts.
Cooperation with investigators
Shehu also disclosed that she fully cooperated with investigators throughout the probe by honouring invitations and providing all requested documents and explanations.
She said she had nothing to hide and remained confident that the evidence she submitted would establish her innocence.
The former NSIPA boss maintained that she had consistently acted in accordance with the law and within the limits of her official responsibilities while serving at the agency.
Calls for transparency
Shehu appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the findings of investigations into NSIPA are made public, arguing that transparency would help restore public confidence and clear the names of individuals wrongly accused.
She said making the investigation reports public would also enable Nigerians to understand what transpired within the agency and strengthen accountability in the management of public funds.
“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.
She reiterated that her conscience remained clear because she believed she acted in the best interest of the country by drawing attention to alleged financial irregularities within the agency.
Her comments come amid continued public scrutiny of financial activities linked to the administration of social investment programmes under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, with anti-graft agencies continuing investigations into the management of funds allocated for government intervention initiatives.
Shehu maintained that she remains willing to cooperate with any lawful investigation and expressed confidence that the truth would eventually emerge through due process.