Nigeria ex-NSIPA boss denies N44bn diversion claim

Halima Shehu, the former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria's National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), has firmly denied allegations of diverting N44 billion into personal accounts. Shehu, who was suspended by President Bola Tinubu in January 2024, three months into her tenure, stated in a recent interview that the accusations are false.

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I never transferred N44 billion to any personal account, and the EFCC never recovered a penny from my personal account or from my family’s or from any of my friends’ personal account. I never did, and I stand by that. Never. All the circulations, all the news out there are all rumours.

She emphasized that investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not result in the recovery of any funds from her, her family, or her friends. Shehu has formally appealed to President Tinubu, the EFCC, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, seeking the conclusion of the investigations and the restoration of her reputation. "All the circulations, all the news out there are all rumours," she asserted.

Explaining the financial operations under her leadership, Shehu clarified that funds were transferred to licensed payment service providers and commercial banks for onward disbursement to beneficiaries, adhering to established operational procedures. "The monies had gone into the accounts of the payment service providers which are existing contractors of the ministry. Their contracts had not expired. I did not contract anyone of them," she explained, detailing the standard practice of using regulated entities for program fund disbursement.

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The monies had gone into the accounts of the payment service providers which are existing contractors of the ministry. Their contracts had not expired. I did not contract anyone of them.

Shehu also revealed that shortly after assuming office in October 2023, she identified significant weaknesses in the agency's financial controls. She claims to have promptly reported these breaches, including unauthorized signatories added to NSIPA's account without her consent, to the relevant anti-graft agencies before her suspension. "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 on what? Transfer of N44 billion into private account, which, until this moment, I will tell you they are false," she stated.

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While I was in office, I called on the EFCC Chairman on 21st of December 2023, before my suspension, and I handed over a letter to him, setting out all these violations of financial regulations in the agency.