FORMER Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release the report of its investigation into allegations of financial impropriety levelled against her, insisting that the findings would vindicate her.
News Point Nigeria reports that President Tinubu suspended Shehu from office in January 2024 following allegations of financial misconduct at the NSIPA, after which the EFCC questioned her as part of its investigation into the agency’s management. However, the anti-graft agency has yet to publicly release the outcome of the probe.
In an open letter addressed to the President, the former NSIPA chief expressed confidence that publication of the EFCC’s findings would clear her name, maintaining that the allegations of financial embezzlement against her were false.
Shehu, who headed the agency for less than four months before her suspension, said the accusations had subjected her and her family to severe emotional, financial and reputational hardship.
“I have come with humility believing you are yet to know the depth to which I single-handedly fought the wrongdoings at NSIPA. The proactive steps I took to fight corruption should earn me your honour, not dishonour,” she wrote.
The former NSIPA boss further stated that she had been a committed supporter of President Tinubu, campaigning for his election in communities across the country despite losing her previous appointment during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari because of her political support for Tinubu.
She also disclosed that she has not received her entitlements since her suspension from office.
According to Shehu, shortly after assuming office as National Coordinator of NSIPA, she uncovered what she described as entrenched financial irregularities and weak internal control mechanisms within the agency.
She said she reported the alleged infractions to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on December 22, 2023, submitting documentary evidence to support her claims and requesting an investigation.
She alleged that barely 10 days after making those reports to the anti-corruption agency, she was suspended from office without receiving any response from the relevant authorities.
The former NSIPA chief further claimed that during her tenure, nearly ₦14 billion was withdrawn from the agency’s accounts without her knowledge or approval.
According to her, unauthorised signatories were added to NSIPA’s Remita account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), leading to financial transactions that were carried out outside her authority.
“As the chief accounting officer, these actions occurred beyond my control,” she stated.
Shehu also maintained that the EFCC did not recover any money from her throughout the course of its investigation, insisting that her stewardship at the agency reflected the same standard of accountability that had defined her career in public service.
She recalled her previous role in managing the World Bank-supported Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, where she supervised the digitisation of the scheme and facilitated the opening of more than 1.9 million beneficiary accounts across commercial banks, microfinance banks and payment service providers.
The former NSIPA CEO further disclosed that she had written several letters to the EFCC, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and President Tinubu, requesting that the investigation be concluded and its findings made public, but said none of the letters had received a response.
“My only prayer has been for closure and direct public release of the investigation report so the truth can be known and I can be free to continue to serve my country,” she said.
Shehu added that beyond the personal consequences she had endured, the unresolved allegations had also undermined public confidence in women seeking leadership positions in public service, stressing that the continued silence over the investigation had damaged not only her integrity but also the aspirations of other women committed to national service.