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Former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has claimed she was punished rather than protected after reporting alleged financial misconduct within the agency, insisting that allegations linking her to the diversion of ₦44 billion are false.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Monday, Shehu maintained that she had alerted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other government authorities to what she described as unauthorised financial transactions before she was suspended from office.
According to her, she resumed office on October 18, 2023, with a thorough understanding of the social investment programmes, having previously managed the Conditional Cash Transfer initiative and participated in establishing the ministry overseeing the scheme.
“I was appointed on the 18th of October, 2023, by the President. And when I got appointed and resumed work, it’s a ministry I had worked before. Since the establishment of the ministry, I was part and parcel of the formation of the ministry. So I know every programme that took place under the ministry, exactly how much funds were left from the previous administration in the ministry for each programme.”
She said her previous work focused heavily on improving transparency by digitising the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and introducing financial literacy initiatives that brought millions of beneficiaries into the formal banking system.
“I was fully instrumental in digitising the programme, bringing financial literacy for transparency and accountability into play. Together with the World Bank team, I brought financial literacy into play… We opened over 1,900,000 accounts of beneficiaries.”
Shehu also highlighted her role during the Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign, stating that she served as National Director of the campaign’s Social and Humanitarian Directorate.
“Under that leadership, I mobilised women and youth, including beneficiaries that we had empowered… That movement contributed to the Tinubu-Shettima campaign and was instrumental in bringing about almost three million votes to this administration.”
The former NSIPA chief said it was after assuming office that she uncovered what she described as serious lapses in the agency’s financial management.
“When I got to office… I discovered weak financial controls. Money was being touched without accountability. So I began to do my own audit.”
She said she reported her concerns to then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, and the ministry’s permanent secretary, questioning why funds were allegedly being moved without proper accountability.
According to Shehu, several financial transactions were carried out without her knowledge or approval despite her position as chief executive.
“There were movements of funds that I didn’t give approval for, I didn’t give authorisation for, and I didn’t consent to. Transactions never came to me. They started from Betta Edu to the programme managers that she appointed.”
She further alleged that Edu appointed more than 10 officials into NSIPA outside the agency’s legal framework and instructed them to bypass her authority.
“She had appointed over 10 people in my agency, which was a violation of the mandate of NSIPA.”
“She asked all the programme managers never to report to me except her.”
She also claimed that over $300 million from an $800 million World Bank-supported programme was accessed without her involvement, prompting her to notify officials of the World Bank.
“On no account should they directly work with the minister because I cannot account for her excesses.”
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Shehu disclosed that she formally petitioned the EFCC on December 21, 2023, before her suspension, submitting documents detailing what she believed were breaches of financial regulations.
“I called on the EFCC Chairman while I was in office and handed over a letter stating all these violations of financial regulations in the agency… I documented and handed everything over.”
She said she equally briefed the ICPC about alleged irregularities, including additional signatories added to NSIPA accounts without her authorisation.
Despite taking those steps, Shehu said no action appeared to have been taken on her complaints.
“I thought I was supposed to be honoured for the proactive measures I took. I thought I was supposed to be protected, but my suspension came just 10 weeks after I had escalated to them.”
Rejecting allegations that she diverted ₦44 billion, Shehu insisted investigators never found any public funds in her possession or linked to her relatives.
“I never transferred ₦44 billion to any personal account. I never did, and I stand by that. Never. The EFCC never recovered a penny from my personal account, or from my family’s, or from any of my friends’ personal account.”
She explained that the transactions now under scrutiny involved transfers to licensed commercial banks, microfinance banks and payment service providers responsible for disbursing social intervention funds to beneficiaries.
“The way the programmes are supposed to be implemented is by transferring the funds of the programmes to commercial banks, payment service providers regulated and licensed by the Central Bank or microfinance banks. Then they disburse to the beneficiaries.”
The former NSIPA boss said she cooperated fully with investigators throughout the probe.
“The EFCC has 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 questioned why the information she supplied allegedly failed to influence the investigation.
“How come all the reports I gave to the EFCC didn’t matter? How come I was the first to register the complaints, but I got a reprisal instead of an honour?”
She revealed that after receiving no response, she wrote further petitions to the EFCC, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and President Bola Tinubu, seeking intervention.
Maintaining that her reputation had been built on accountability, Shehu appealed to the President to ensure her name was cleared.
“My integrity is my asset. It’s a legacy I carry all around. I’ve never taken a penny off anyone.”
“I’m pleading with the President to intervene, to let them clear my name. I’m not saying I am perfect. There may be administrative lapses, but I am not corrupt, and I did not take the funds of the poor and vulnerable for myself or for anyone.”
