TRENTON, N.J. — Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill on Friday announced her intention to nominate Shirley Emehelu to serve as New Jersey’s next state comptroller, selecting a former federal prosecutor and senior state official to lead one of the state’s key oversight agencies.
Emehelu brings experience from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Sherrill said the nomination reflects her commitment to strengthening transparency and accountability in state government, with the comptroller serving as a central watchdog role.
“Shirley is a leader who will fiercely uphold the rule of law, expose corruption, and ensure that state government is transparent and accountable. I worked closely with Shirley at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and saw how she implemented innovative reforms in the criminal legal system that improved public safety in New Jersey. I know that she will bring a focus on public service, integrity, and fairness to the Comptroller’s office to ensure that Trenton is being a good steward of New Jerseyans’ tax dollars to make life more affordable,” Sherrill said.
Emehelu said she was honored by the nomination and emphasized the oversight responsibilities of the office.
“It’s an honor to be nominated to be New Jersey’s next Comptroller. I worked alongside the Governor-elect at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and I know that her administration will be guided by a commitment to public service and accountability to the people. Our office will serve as a watchdog for the state and public trust – uncovering fraud, waste, and corruption to protect New Jersey taxpayers,” Emehelu said.
Emehelu most recently served as executive assistant attorney general from 2022 to 2024. Before that, she was a member of the white-collar criminal defense and government investigations group at Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi, where she also co-led the firm’s banking and finance group.
She previously served as chief of asset recovery and anti-money laundering for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, overseeing statewide programs related to federal asset forfeiture, money laundering and victim restitution. During her nine-year tenure with the office, she prosecuted numerous complex financial fraud cases.
Emehelu clerked for U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer in the Eastern District of Virginia. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a law degree from Yale Law School.
