Halima Shehu, the former head of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), has publicly rejected accusations that she mismanaged N44 billion. She stated that no agency funds were ever deposited into her private accounts.
During an interview with Arise Television, Shehu explained that she identified financial weaknesses soon after taking her post. She claims she informed former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu and relevant authorities about these issues. She further alleged that certain funds were moved without her authorization and that specific programme managers operated independently of the agency’s official chain of command.
Shehu emphasized that she had formally notified the EFCC and the ICPC regarding these irregularities prior to her December 2023 suspension. She expressed frustration that instead of being recognized for her warnings, she was terminated shortly after reporting the concerns. She insists that investigators found no link between the agency’s missing funds and her own finances, asserting that the disputed transactions were payments made to legitimate service providers for social programs.
Shehu has urged President Bola Tinubu to release the official investigation findings to the public. She maintained her innocence regarding corruption, stating that while administrative errors may have occurred, she never stole money intended for vulnerable citizens.
