Northern Zero Corruption Coalition has urged the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to deepen investigation on suspended National Coordinator of National Social Investment Program, Halima Shehu over an alleged N44.8 billion fraud.
In a statement made available to newsmen shortly after its meeting, the Pan Arewa group’s current attempt to implicate the sitting Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu is diversionary.
The Group worried that there is an attempt to implicate the sitting Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and poverty alleviation Betta Edu, who was new on her position and her few months on the Ministerial jobs proven to be so transparent and without tribal sentiments.
The group said that the fact that EFCC, has so far uncovered several accounts with stored Billions of Naira shows that the suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Program Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, is alone in the allegations of the N44.8 billion Fraud.
The National Coordinator, Barrister Shamsu Dandaji said in a release that, it is on notice that Halima Shehu served in the position between 2017 and 2022 as National Coordinator. And now as National Coordinator NSIPA.
“Halima Shehu is currently in our (EFCC) custody in connection with the ongoing 44.8 billion fraud and she was part of the Fraud that took place under the former Humanitarian Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.
“Halima was the National Coordinator in charge of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under the ministry during Buhari’s tenure, and she’s been queried over some of the money that left the ministry’s coffers through her.
President Tinubu approved Shehu’s immediate suspension and investigation over alleged financial malfeasance, her suspension came less than two months after her appointment’s confirmation by the Senate.
The Coordinator Barrister Shamsu, said that EFCC and any other Person or Person’s should know that since her appointment, Betta Edu has been up and doing in vindicating the Government of Tinubu as one which cares for the well-being of Nigerians.
He said, “for the over 15 times Betta Edu has visited the North with several humanitarian interventions in Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, Borno, Plateau, Nasarawa, and so many other States, while the South has heard her impact over times”.
Therefore they cautioned the EFCC in allowing itself to be used against the serving Minister who has nothing to do with Halima and her former Minister investigation.
Shehu, was Suspended indefinitely from office by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, and was arrested by the EFCC operatives in connection with the alleged N44.8 billion fraud that occurred between 27 December 2023 to 31 December 2023.
