“I Never Diverted ₦44bn”: Former NSIPA Boss Halima Shehu Speaks Out, Demands Clearing of Her Name

Former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has forcefully denied allegations linking her to the alleged diversion of ₦44 billion in social intervention funds.

Speaking during a live appearance on Arise Television, Shehu asserted that she acted as a whistleblower regarding financial irregularities within the agency, claiming she was punished with a suspension rather than protected.

Shehu emphasized that neither the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) nor any anti-graft body recovered any funds from her personal, family, or associates' bank accounts.

She stated that she formally petitioned both the EFCC and the ICPC in December 2023 to report unauthorized transactions and weak financial controls shortly after assuming office.

Shehu alleged that several financial movements took place without her authorization or knowledge, pointing to managers appointed outside NSIPA’s legal framework who answered directly to former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu.

She clarified that the funds under review were operational disbursements made directly to licensed commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and payment service providers contracted to pay social safety net beneficiaries.

Addressing her suspension by President Bola Tinubu three months into her tenure, Shehu maintained that her integrity remains her primary asset. While acknowledging that administrative lapses can occur in complex government operations, she urged the President to intervene, review the documents she submitted to investigators, and formally restore her reputation.

What do you make of Halima Shehu’s claims that she acted as a whistleblower before being suspended? Do you think the anti-graft agencies should publish their full investigative findings on the NSIPA funds? Drop your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!

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