Nigerian Investment Agency Co-ordinator Arrested as Ex-minister Faces EFCC Over N37.1bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested and detained the National Co-ordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA, Halima Shehu, over the ongoing probe into the N37.1 billion allegedly laundered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, under former Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

VOP News gathered that EFCC operatives stormed NSIPA’s office at the Federal Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday and drove Shehu to the EFCC headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.

Impeccable senior officers of the anti-graft agency, who spoke to journalists on the condition of anonymity, revealed that Shehu was indicted in connection with the alleged 37.1bn fraud as the former National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under the Ministry during former president Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

Shehu was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has also invited the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Umar-Farouk,  to appear before investigators today over the ongoing probe into the N37.1 billion 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.