Former NHIS Boss Usman Yusuf Arraigned for Alleged Fraud, Remanded in Kuje Prison
Abuja, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), on multiple fraud charges.
Yusuf appeared before Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge brought against him by the anti-graft agency.
Following his plea, O.I. Habeeb, his defence counsel, requested that Yusuf remain in EFCC custody pending the hearing of his bail application. However, the presiding judge ruled that he could no longer be held by the EFCC after his arraignment. Instead, she ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The court scheduled February 12 for the bail hearing.
Yusuf, appointed in 2016 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, had a controversial tenure at NHIS. He was first suspended by the Minister of Health in 2017, followed by another suspension by the NHIS board in 2018 over allegations of corruption and administrative irregularities. In 2019, he was eventually removed from his position after a period of administrative leave.
His legal troubles deepened when EFCC operatives arrested him at his residence on January 29.
According to court documents obtained by TheCable, the EFCC has accused Yusuf of abusing his office for personal gain. One of the charges alleges that he approved the purchase of a vehicle for N49,197,750—far exceeding the budgeted N30,000,000.
Additionally, the EFCC claims that Yusuf had a private interest in the GK Kanki Foundation and, without following due process, awarded the organization a contract worth N10.1 million for a training program. Investigations revealed that while the contract was meant to train 90 individuals, only 45 people participated.
