Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested and detained the suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu.
Shehu was arrested 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.
The EFCC operatives stormed NSIPA’s office at the Federal Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday at about 9 am and whisked Shehu to the EFCC headquarters, Jani, Abuja.
A reliable source in the anti-graft agency, who spoke to ThePUNCH on the condition of anonymity, revealed that Shehu was indicted in connection with the alleged N37.1bn fraud as the former National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under the Ministry.
On Tuesday, Daily Dates Nigeria reported that President Bola Tinubu approved Shehu’s suspension with immediate effect and ordered her replacement.
Her suspension comes barely three months after her confirmation for the appointment by the Senate.
Following her suspension, Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, the National N-POWER Program Manager, was been appointed in an acting capacity as NC/CEO pending the conclusion of the investigation.