Halima Shehu, the former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), stated that she provided the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with documents and evidence concerning alleged financial misconduct, yet instead of being acknowledged as a whistleblower, she faced reprisals.
Shehu made this assertion during an interview on Arise News, where she discussed the allegations related to the reported ₦44 billion fraud case involving the social investment programme.
The former NSIPA leader claimed that she collaborated with investigators and provided documents that could exonerate her from what she termed as false accusations.
She indicated that the materials she submitted included records of financial transactions and evidence of purported violations of established financial protocols involving the Office of the Accountant-General and the pertinent ministry.
Additionally, she alleged that nearly ₦3 billion remaining from COVID-19 funds was transferred into 11 accounts without her authorization, consent, or approval.
The former NSIPA chief expressed her concern regarding the lack of attention given to the complaints and reports she submitted to the EFCC, in contrast to the attention she believes was afforded to reports from another official.
Shehu asserted that she was among the first to raise alarms about the alleged financial irregularities and anticipated that her actions would be recognized as whistleblowing rather than met with punishment.
During the interview, the presenters also inquired about the alleged distribution of government funds in cash and how such payments could be accurately reconciled and documented.
In reply, Shehu clarified that she was not in charge of the programme during the time the alleged cash distributions occurred. She recommended that the official who oversaw the programme at that time should be called upon to clarify how the process was managed.
Shehu’s comments come amid an ongoing investigation and legal controversy surrounding alleged financial mismanagement within the social investment programme.
Her claims concerning the transfers, financial breaches and her reports to the EFCC remain allegations made by her and would require verification from the relevant authorities and documentary evidence.
