An Open Letter to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR 

 For a “Respectful Urgent Appeal for Justice, Vindication and Restoration Following Reprisal and False Allegations Against Me.”

With due respect, I bow before your esteemed office with a heart that is both heavy and hopeful. I come as a daughter of Nigeria with respect, humility and tears I have held back for too long.

My name is Halima Shehu, the suspended National Coordinator/CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA. I am a Nigerian who has spent the best years of my life in service both in the private and in public office.

 Your Excellency, I am broken as I appeal to you as the leader and father of the nation who promised Renewed Hope. Mr President, when you spoke of “Renewed Hope,” I did not hear a slogan, I believed. When it was still only words on paper, I stood up, I mobilized women, youths and communities. I campaigned in the remotest communities on poor roads with little funding and with little or no security, I risked my life and that of my family, we gave you our loyalty, our voice, our energy and our time because we believed that under your leadership Nigeria could be healed.

You may recall that since I publicly declared my support for you as the APC presidential candidate in 2022, I have faced sustained personal and professional attacks. I lost my job under the previous administration for supporting you and I lost my job under this administration on false allegations. To this day, I have not received my entitlements — not while in office and not during suspension.

 To my faith and to women across Nigeria who now wonder if speaking the truth is worth the cost. It is also the pain of integrity wounded. It is the grief of a family legacy stained. It is the isolation of choosing truth and being punished for it. It is watching doors close and years of service reduced to whispers.

Sir, I have watched you as a father of the nation evacuate Nigerians from war zones, rescue citizens from xenophobic attacks and grant pardon and compassion to those you have never met and have not stood with you till date. If your heart has room for them I have no doubt it’ll have a room for me as your daughter who stood with you when it mattered. Mr President, I have not come with anger. I have come with humility believing you are yet to know the depth to which I single-handedly fought the wrongdoings at NSIPA. The proactive steps I took to fight corruption should earn me your honor not dishonor.

 Your Excellency, my pain began with conscience. Upon assumption of office, I encountered entrenched issues of opacity and weak financial controls within the Agency. Acting in good faith and in strict adherence to my oath of office, I uncovered and documented serious irregularities. On 22nd December 2023, I promptly reported same to the Chairmen of the EFCC and ICPC, submitting documentary evidence in support. I was assured that the matter would be escalated appropriately. To my utter shock, barely ten days later and without any feedback from the investigative bodies I was suspended from office. During my short ten-week tenure, substantial sums running into almost Fourteen Billion Naira (N14 billion) were removed from the Agency’s accounts without my approval, knowledge or authorization in clear violation of established financial protocols. Additionally, unauthorized signatories were reportedly added to NSIPA’s Remita account with the Central Bank of Nigeria without my approval, leading to further transfers outside my authority. As the chief accounting officer, these actions occurred beyond my control.

 My actions at NSIPA were fully consistent with this record and aligned with the Renewed Hope agenda. On 2nd January 2024, the very day my suspension was announced, I was scheduled to officially launch the NSIP “Renewed Hope” Empowerment Programmes targeting the poorest households, vulnerable groups and beneficiaries of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) nationwide. Funds transferred to commercial banks and CBN-licensed Payment Service Providers (PSPs) were strictly for programme implementation and were undertaken in accordance with approved operational frameworks.

Sir, the EFCC did not recover a penny from me. Mr President, During your Renewed Hope Presidential Campaign (2022-2023), I was honoured to be appointed by you to serve as National Director, Social and Humanitarian Directorate of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign. In that capacity, my Directorate designed and implemented one of the most expansive grassroots humanitarian initiatives of the campaign. Through this programme over 2,000,000 households across more than 55,000 communities nationwide were empowered and uplifted from poverty. Each household benefitted an average of five individuals, cutting across approximately 7,000 political wards throughout the Federation. This people-centred intervention translated into broad grassroots mobilisation and is credibly associated with the delivery of over 3,000,000 votes in support of the Renewed Hope mandate. It was therefore with renewed dedication that I accepted my appointment as NC/CEO of NSIPA on 18th October 2023, determined to faithfully translate the Renewed Hope vision into tangible outcomes for the poor and vulnerable.

 Your Excellency, I have walked every lawful path seeking closure. I have written multiple letters to the EFCC pleading for them to conclude and make public their findings. I have written to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. I have written to the present Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to follow up on the EFCC investigations. I have also written to you, Your Excellency. 

 Attached to this appeal are acknowledgement copies of all these letters. To date, I have received no response or resolution. This prolonged silence has left me in a state of uncertainty, hardship and reputational injury.

 My only prayer has been for closure and direct public release of the investigation report so the truth can be known and I can be free to continue to serve my country.

 Sir, my integrity is not merely a personal asset, it is the legacy I owe my family and the trust once reposed in me by your office. This ordeal has subjected my household to severe emotional and financial distress.

Your leadership has always exemplified compassion, courage, moral clarity and values that inspired my unwavering support for you. I remain loyal to you. I remain loyal to Nigeria and I remain ready with a clear name to serve Nigeria again.

 Long Live Your Excellency. Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 Yours Sincerely,

 Halima Shehu

 Former National Coordinator/CEO,

NSIPA