Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to release the report of its investigation into allegations of financial impropriety against her.
Shehu, who was suspended by Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations of financial misconduct at NSIPA, said the public release of the EFCC report would vindicate her and bring closure to the matter.
In an open letter addressed to the President, the former NSIPA boss described the allegations against her as false, saying they had caused severe emotional, financial and reputational damage to her and her family.
“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.
Shehu said she headed the agency for less than four months before her suspension and insisted that she was not involved in any financial embezzlement.
According to her, shortly after assuming office, she discovered alleged entrenched financial irregularities and weak internal controls within the agency.
She claimed that she reported the alleged infractions to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on December 22, 2023, submitting documentary evidence for investigation.
Shehu alleged that barely 10 days after making the report, she was suspended from office without receiving any response from the anti-corruption agencies.
The former NSIPA CEO further claimed that nearly ₦14 billion was withdrawn from the agency’s accounts during her tenure without her knowledge or approval.
She alleged that unauthorised signatories were added to NSIPA’s Remita account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, leading to transactions carried out outside her authority.
“As the chief accounting officer, these actions occurred beyond my control,” she said.
Shehu also said the EFCC did not recover any money from her, insisting that her record in public service had always reflected accountability and transparency.
She cited her previous role in managing the World Bank-supported conditional cash transfer programme, where she said 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 boss said she had written several letters to the EFCC, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the President, asking for the conclusion and public release of the investigation report, but had received no 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 also said she had not received her entitlements since her suspension.
She described herself as a supporter of President Tinubu, saying she campaigned for his election in communities across the country despite allegedly losing her previous job under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration because of her political support for Tinubu.
She added that the allegations had not only damaged her personal integrity but also affected the confidence of women aspiring to public leadership.
Shehu urged the President to intervene by directing the EFCC to make its findings public, insisting that the report would show that she fought corruption at NSIPA rather than participated in it.
