Former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has denied allegations that she diverted ₦44 billion, insisting she never transferred public funds into any personal account and had reported alleged financial irregularities within the agency to anti-graft agencies before her suspension.

Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Shehu said she assumed office on October 18, 2023, with extensive knowledge of the agency’s operations, having previously worked on the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and participated in the establishment of the ministry overseeing the initiative.

She said one of her major contributions was digitising the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and introducing financial literacy initiatives aimed at improving transparency, accountability and financial inclusion among beneficiaries.

According to her, the programme led to the opening of more than 1.9 million bank accounts for beneficiaries in collaboration with the World Bank, helping integrate many people in the informal sector into the formal financial system.

Shehu also highlighted her role during the Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign, where she served as National Director of the Social and Humanitarian Directorate, saying she mobilised women, youths and programme beneficiaries in support of the campaign.

The former NSIPA chief alleged that after assuming office, she discovered weak financial controls within the agency and raised concerns with the then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, and the ministry’s permanent secretary.

She claimed funds were moved without her approval and alleged that more than 10 programme managers were appointed into the agency by the minister without following the provisions establishing NSIPA.

According to Shehu, the programme managers reported directly to the minister rather than to her as chief executive, while financial transactions allegedly bypassed her office.

She further alleged that more than $300 million was withdrawn from an $800 million World Bank-supported programme without her involvement, prompting her to notify officials of the World Bank that the agency fell under her administrative authority.

Shehu said she formally reported the alleged financial irregularities to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 21, 2023, before her suspension, submitting documents detailing what she described as violations of financial regulations and unauthorised movement of funds.

She added that she also petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that additional signatories were introduced to NSIPA’s bank accounts without her knowledge or approval.

Expressing disappointment over the outcome of her complaints, Shehu said she expected protection as a whistleblower rather than suspension.

Rejecting allegations that she diverted ₦44 billion, the former NSIPA boss maintained that investigators did not trace any public funds to her or members of her family.

She explained that the transactions under scrutiny involved transfers to licensed payment service providers and financial institutions responsible for disbursing funds to beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s social investment programmes.

Shehu said she cooperated fully with the EFCC during its investigation and provided documents to support her allegations of financial misconduct within the agency.

She also questioned why the concerns she raised with the anti-graft agency did not result in further action, despite being the first to report the alleged irregularities.

The former NSIPA chief disclosed that she subsequently wrote to the EFCC, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and President Bola Tinubu, seeking a review of her case.

Appealing directly to the President, Shehu urged the Federal Government to clear her name, insisting that while administrative shortcomings may have occurred, she neither misappropriated public funds nor benefited from resources meant for vulnerable Nigerians.