Alleged 37.1bn Fraud: EFCC Grills Suspended NSIPA Boss As Buhari’s Minister Faces Investigators Today

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday grilled the suspended National Co-ordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Hajia Halima Shehu, over the ongoing probe into the N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, under former Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier approved the suspension of Shehu.

According to reports, the suspended NSIPA boss was grilled by the anti-graft agency for hours in her office located at Maitama, Abuja.

But the Presidency, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation have yet to make any official statement about the alleged suspension of the NSIPA National Coordinator.

Shehu was expected to hand over starter packs to victims of the kidney harvest at Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Tuesday.

The event was suspended following an alleged directive through a letter purportedly signed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.

Operatives of the EFCC later stormed her office at Taraba Crescent in Maitama to engage her in certain interrogations.

The secret meeting between Shehu and the EFCC operatives, which began at 9 a.m., ended around 4:30 p.m. with the former accompanying the EFCC officials to an unknown location.

Recall that before her recent confirmation by the Senate, Hajia Shehu was the National Programme Coordinator of the National Conditional Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Meanwhile, the EFCC invited the former Minister Umar-Farouk,  to appear before investigators today (Wednesday) over an ongoing probe into the N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered during her tenure in office, through a contractor, James Okwete.

The former minister was asked to appear before investigators at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabbi, Abuja today to give an account of the alleged monumental fraud that took place under her watch, a document exclusively seen by our correspondent on Saturday revealed.

“In view of the above, you are requested to kindly report for an interview with the undersigned. Scheduled as follows: Wednesday 3rd, January, 2024. 10:00 am. This request is made pursuant to section 38 (I) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 & section 21 of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.”