The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken into custody Halima Shehu, the National Co-ordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged laundering of N37,170,855,753.44 in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, under former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk.
Operatives from the EFCC reportedly stormed NSIPA’s office at the Federal Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday at approximately 9 am, transporting Shehu to the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. As of the time of reporting on Tuesday night, she remains in detention, undergoing interrogation.
Reliable senior officers from the anti-graft agency, speaking anonymously, disclosed that Shehu, the former National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under the Ministry, is implicated in the alleged N37.1bn fraud. She is being questioned about the funds that purportedly left the ministry’s coffers during her tenure. The former Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, is also expected to face questioning on Wednesday regarding the same money laundering case.
President Bola Tinubu suspended Shehu from her position on Tuesday.
In a related development, it was previously reported that the EFCC has summoned the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Umar-Farouk, to appear for an interview today (Wednesday). The investigation focuses on the N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered during her tenure through a contractor, James Okwete.
The former minister has been requested to appear at the EFCC Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, to provide an account of the alleged financial improprieties that occurred under her watch. The request is made pursuant to section 38 (I) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.