Former NHIS Boss Denied Bail as EFCC Pursues Fraud Charges
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Kuje has denied the bail application of Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), amid allegations of financial misconduct.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Yusuf in court on Thursday, following his arrest at his residence on Wednesday. The anti-graft agency accuses the former NHIS chief of abusing his position for personal gain, including authorizing an overpriced vehicle purchase and awarding a questionable contract to a foundation linked to him.
Court documents reveal that the EFCC has charged Yusuf with inflating the cost of a vehicle purchase to N49,197,750—well above the budgeted N30,000,000—while serving as NHIS executive secretary.
Additionally, Yusuf is accused of holding private interests in the GK Kanki Foundation and improperly awarding it a contract worth N10.1 million. The contract, meant for training 90 individuals, allegedly only benefited 45, raising concerns about financial irregularities.
https://neusroom.com/efcc-summons-okoya-sons-over-alleged-naira-abuse/During Thursday’s proceedings, presiding Judge Chinyere Nwecheonwu deferred Yusuf’s arraignment, citing the need for the EFCC to amend its charges. Despite efforts by Isah Dokto Haruna, standing in for lead defence counsel O.I. Habeeb, to secure bail for Yusuf, the judge ruled against it, stating that bail considerations would only come after the formal arraignment.
