The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, for possible arraignment in court on Thursday -today, January 30.
Yusuf is facing allegations of corruption and abuse of office – including awarding contracts to family members, financial mismanagement and approving payments beyond his approval limit.
Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest of the former NHIS in a telephone chat with our correspondent last night.
In 2018, Prof. Yusuf was alleged to have awarded contracts to Lubekh Nigeria Limited, a company where his nephew Khalifa Hassan Yusufu is a director.
He was also accused of inflating the ICT budget from N4.975 billion to N8.7 billion and approving payments without due process.
The investigation into these allegations was prompted by a petition dated October 31, 2018, signed by Attahiru Ibrahim.
The petition alleged fraudulent practices and impunity perpetrated by Prof. Usman Yusuf during his tenure as Executive Secretary of NHIS.
It would be recalled that Prof. Yusuf was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 2, 2019, following recommendations from a panel set up by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in December 2018 to investigate allegations of fraud and misdemeanors leveled against him by workers of the NHIS.
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