Halima Shehu, former chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release the report of its probe into allegations against her.
Tinubu suspended Shehu in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety at the NSIPA.
The EFCC subsequently grilled Shehu as part of its investigation into the agency’s management.
The anti-graft agency has yet to publicly release the outcome of its investigation into the allegations.
In an open letter addressed to the president, Shehu said the EFCC probe report would vindicate her.
Shehu, who headed the agency for less than four months before her suspension, described the allegations of financial embezzlement against her as false, noting that she and her family have suffered severe emotional, financial and reputational damage.
“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 CEO said she had been a supporter of the president, campaigning for his election in communities across the country despite losing her previous job under the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration because of her political support.
Shehu said she had not received her entitlements since her suspension.
The former NSIPA national coordinator said shortly after assuming office, she discovered alleged entrenched financial irregularities and weak internal controls within NSIPA.
According to her, she reported the alleged infractions to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on December 22, 2023, submitting documentary evidence for investigation.
She alleged that barely 10 days after making the reports, she was suspended from office without receiving any response from the anti-corruption agencies.
She further claimed that during her tenure, nearly N14 billion was withdrawn from the agency’s accounts without her knowledge or approval.
Halima said unauthorised signatories were added to NSIPA’s Remita account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), resulting in transactions carried out outside her authority.
“As the chief accounting officer, these actions occurred beyond my control,” she said.
Shehu said the EFCC did not recover any money from her, insisting that her stewardship was consistent with her record of accountability in public service.
She cited 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 over 1.9 million beneficiary accounts across commercial banks, microfinance banks and payment service providers.
The former NSIPA CEO 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, requesting the conclusion and publication of the investigation but with 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 added that the allegations against her had damaged not only her personal integrity but also the confidence of women aspiring to public leadership.
