Former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has denied allegations that she diverted N44 billion, insisting that all the documents and facts she provided to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) exonerate her.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Shehu said she blew the whistle on alleged financial irregularities within the agency while she was still in office.

Shehu was suspended in January 2024 after the Federal Government ordered an investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

She alleged that funds were moved without her approval.

“There were movements of funds, all without my authorisation, consent or approval,” she said.

Shehu claimed that she formally petitioned the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged violations before she was suspended, adding that rather than being commended for blowing the whistle, she suffered a reprisal.

“I was the first to register the complaint, but I got a reprisal instead of an honour,” she said.

Denying allegations that she diverted N44 billion, Shehu said the EFCC never traced any funds to her or members of her family and that she never transferred N44 billion to any personal account.

She said she fully cooperated with the EFCC’s investigation and provided documents and evidence to support her claims.

“The EFCC has investigated me. I helped them to do their job while I was in office. I gave them documents and I gave them facts. In all this matter, what I’m trying to let Nigerians understand is that there are facts, and facts don’t lie,” she said.

The EFCC has not publicly responded to Shehu’s latest claims made during the Arise Television interview.