Jul 27, 2026

Shehu: I Exposed ₦44bn Fraud but Faced Reprisal, Not Honour

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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Abuja, Nigeria – July 27, 2026 — In a dramatic appearance on ARISE News, former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has broken her silence on the long-running ₦44 billion fraud allegations, declaring that she was the first to blow the whistle on financial irregularities within the agency—only to face suspension and public suspicion instead of protection or recognition.

Speaking on Monday, Shehu firmly denied ever transferring any public funds into personal or family accounts. “I never transferred ₦44 billion to any personal account. I never did, and I stand by that.

Never,” she stated. “The EFCC never recovered a penny from my personal account, or from my family’s, or from any of my friends’ personal accounts.”

Shehu revealed that she assumed office on October 18, 2023, and quickly identified what she described as weak financial controls.

She said she raised the alarm with then-Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betta Edu, the permanent secretary, the EFCC, and the ICPC.

On December 21, 2023—weeks before her suspension in January 2024—she said she personally handed a detailed letter to the EFCC Chairman outlining unauthorized fund movements, including the transfer of ₦3 billion in leftover COVID-19 funds into 11 accounts without her approval, consent, or authorization.

She also flagged additional unauthorized signatories added to NSIPA accounts and the appointment of over 10 officials into the agency in alleged violation of its mandate.

“I thought I was supposed to be honored for the proactive measures I took. I thought I was supposed to be protected, but my suspension came just 10 weeks after I had escalated to them,” Shehu said. “How come all the reports I gave to the EFCC didn’t matter? How come I was the first to register the complaints, but I got a reprisal instead of an honour?”

Shehu highlighted her earlier work digitising the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, opening over 1.9 million beneficiary accounts, and successfully managing $300 million in World Bank funds without incident.

She also noted her role as National Director for the Social and Humanitarian Directorate during the Tinubu-Shettima campaign.

She insisted that funds moved during her short tenure were directed to licensed payment service providers for legitimate programme disbursements, not personal enrichment.

After receiving no formal response from the EFCC, she said she wrote further petitions to the commission, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and President Bola Tinubu himself.

“My integrity is my asset. It’s a legacy I carry all around,” she added. “I’m pleading with the President to intervene, to let them clear my name. I’m not saying I am perfect.

There may be administrative lapses, but I am not corrupt, and I did not take the funds of the poor and vulnerable for myself or for anyone.”

President Tinubu suspended Shehu in January 2024 amid allegations of suspicious fund movements from NSIPA accounts.

The EFCC later investigated the matter, but the full report has not been made public. Shehu’s latest interview has reignited debate over accountability, whistleblower protection, and the handling of high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria’s social investment programs.

As the conversation continues, many Nigerians are calling for the EFCC investigation report to be released in the interest of transparency and justice for all parties involved.