EFCC Lays Siege to NSIPA Office After Suspension of National Coordinator

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday laid siege to the Maitama office of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) shortly after reports of the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer and National Coordinator of the agency, Halima Shehu, emerged.

EFCC officials were seen positioned outside and inside the office, while access to the office located on Taraba close, off Limpopo street, Maitama, was also restricted.

In what appeared as a mild face-off between suspected Department of State Services (DSS) officials and EFCC personnel, the latter took over the compound while Shehu alongside her key officers, including media aides were not allowed to leave their offices.

THISDAY can authoritatively report that after hours of being locked in the office, the EFCC personnel left and were followed shortly by Shehu’s convoy.

A source in the agency explained that the NSIPA national coordinator will issue a statement as soon as the situation is clear and that she was not allowed to comment on the development at the moment.

Meanwhile, the alleged suspension led to the cancellation of an event the agency was set to hold Tuesday morning in Karu.

Shehu was said to have rushed to the presidential villa to confirm the authenticity of the news, since she was yet to be served any letter at the time, leaving journalists waiting at the venue.

News of Shehu’s suspension filtered in yesterday morning in the media claiming that President Bola Tinubu had suspended her and had appointed the Renewed Hope Job Creation Programme (RHJCP), formerly N-Power boss, Dr. Akindele Egbuwale as the acting NSIPA national coordinator.