Monday, February 3, 2025 - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Usman Yusuf, the former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), on charges of fraud.
Yusuf appeared before Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) High Court on Monday, February 3, where he pleaded not guilty
to a five-count charge.
Following his arraignment, Yusuf’s counsel, O.I. Habeeb, requested that
the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of his bail
application. However, the judge ruled that the defendant could not remain in
EFCC custody after his arraignment and ordered his remand at the Kuje
Correctional Centre. The case was adjourned to February 12 for the bail
hearing.
Yusuf, who was appointed as NHIS executive secretary in 2016 by former
President Muhammadu Buhari, had previously faced allegations of corruption and
mismanagement. He was suspended by the Minister of Health in 2017 and by the
NHIS board in 2018 over alleged irregularities in the administration of the
scheme. He was subsequently removed from his position in 2019 after taking an
administrative leave.
According to court documents, the EFCC accused Yusuf of abusing his
position by approving the purchase of a vehicle for N49,197,750, exceeding the
budgeted sum of N30,000,000. He was also charged with retaining a private
interest in the GK Kanki Foundation, through which he allegedly awarded a N10.1
million contract without due process for the training of 90 individuals,
despite the actual number of trainees being only 45.
Yusuf was arrested at his residence by EFCC operatives on January 29.
The charges highlight allegations of financial mismanagement during his tenure
as NHIS executive secretary, adding to the controversies surrounding his time
at the agency.
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