Former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has rejected allegations that she diverted ₦44 billion, insisting no funds were ever transferred to her personal account.
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television, Shehu said she had raised alarms about financial irregularities within the agency before her suspension in December 2023. She explained that upon assuming office, she discovered weak financial controls and reported her concerns to then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, and other officials.
“There were movements of funds that I didn’t give approval for, didn’t authorise and didn’t consent to,” she said, alleging that programme managers appointed by the minister operated outside the agency’s structure.
Shehu claimed she formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the violations, but was suspended barely 10 weeks later.
Rejecting the corruption
