The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen N30 billion transferred from the National Social Investment Programme Agency’s (NSIPA) accounts.
Reports indicate that certain NSIPA officials redirected these funds to private and corporate accounts associated with the agency’s personnel. An aggregate of N44 billion was reportedly moved from NSIPA’s accounts.
This development follows the arrest of Halima Shehu, the suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, over an alleged N37.1 billion fraud. Shehu was arrested at NSIPA’s office at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Reportedly, the EFCC also arrested NSIPA’s former Director of Finance and Accounts, Bwai Adamu Hamza, in connection with the investigation.
Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, did not respond to the EFCC’s summons for interrogation.
An anonymous source revealed that EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede personally led the inquiry. Following extensive scrutiny of numerous accounts, the EFCC confirmed the unauthorized transfer of N44 billion from NSIPA’s account to various private and corporate accounts.
Subsequently, N30 billion of these funds has been located and frozen. Efforts continue to trace the remaining N14 billion and identify the beneficiaries and entities involved in diverting the funds.
Both Shehu and Hamza underwent lengthy interrogations. Although Shehu was allowed to go home around 11 p.m. on compassionate grounds, she resumed questioning the following day. Hamza’s arrest was prompted by intelligence indicating possible travel abroad.
The EFCC gathered significant information from the two officials, leading to the recovery of records crucial in tracing and freezing the N30 billion. There’s ongoing effort to uncover the accounts concealing the remaining N14 billion.
