NSIPA co-ordinator arrested in N37.1bn fraud; ex-minister faces EFCC today
The National Social Investment Programme Agency’s CEO and National Co-ordinator, Halima Shehu, was arrested and detained by the EFCC over the alleged N37.1bn laundering in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, when Sadiya Umar-Farouk was the Minister.
According to The PUNCH, EFCC agents raided NSIPA’s office at the Federal Secretariat in the FCT on Tuesday around 9 am, and took Shehu to the EFCC headquarters, Jani, Abuja.
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Our correspondent reported that Shehu was still in custody and being questioned as of Tuesday night.
Reliable senior officials of the EFCC, who spoke to our correspondent anonymously, said that Shehu was implicated in the alleged N37.1bn scam as the former National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under the Ministry.
“Halima Shehu is in our (EFCC) custody over the N37.1bn scam that happened under the former Humanitarian Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.
“Halima was the National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under the Ministry when Buhari was in power, and she’s been grilled over some of the money that she diverted from the ministry.
“The former Minister, Sadiya, is also expected to come to the office tomorrow (Wednesday) for interrogation over the N37.1bn money laundering case.”
The PUNCH also reported that President Bola Tinubu suspended Shehu from her position on Tuesday.
In addition, The PUNCH had exclusively reported that the EFCC summoned the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Umar-Farouk, to appear before investigators today (Wednesday) over the alleged N37.1bn laundering during her term in office, through a contractor, James Okwete.
The former minister was instructed to report to the EFCC Headquarters, Jabbi, Abuja today to explain the alleged massive fraud that occurred under her supervision, a document exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Saturday showed.
The document partly read: “The commission is probing a case of money laundering involving the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development when you were the Minister.
“Based on the above, you are kindly requested to report for an interview with the person below. Scheduled as follows: Wednesday 3rd, January, 2024. 10:00 am. This request is made in accordance with section 38 (I) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 & section 21 of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.”
PUNCH