The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, February 3, 2025, arraigned Professor Usman Yusuf, a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), before Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kuje, Abuja.
Yusuf was brought before the court on a five-count charge relating to embezzlement, abuse of office, and fraudulent activities amounting to N90,439,178.
One of the charges alleged that between 2016 and July 2017, while serving as NHIS Executive Secretary, Yusuf approved the purchase of a personal vehicle for N49.1 million, exceeding the allocated budget of N30 million.
The EFCC argued that this act violated Section 22 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Another charge accused him of awarding a contract worth N10.1 million to GK Kanki Foundation, a company in which he had a private interest.
The contract was meant to train 90 individuals, but only 45 people reportedly participated.
Similarly, the EFCC alleged that Yusuf awarded a media consultancy contract of N17.5 million to Lubekh Nigeria Limited, a company owned by his nephew, Khalifa Hassan Yusuf.
Upon reading the charges, the former NHIS boss pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel, Francis Usani, subsequently requested a trial date. While the defense counsel, O.I. Habeeb, SAN, did not oppose the request, he urged the court to keep his client in EFCC custody pending the bail hearing.
Justice Nwecheonwu, however, ruled that Yusuf be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility and scheduled the bail hearing for February 12, 2025.
