By Abiola Olawale
Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, has opened up about his experience following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Yusuf described the ordeal as a deliberate attempt by the government to “demean and dehumanize” him.
He also shed light on what he described as an “emotional and psychological” the detention took on him.
Recall that on January 29, 2025, EFCC operatives raided Yusuf’s residence and arrested him.
The anti-graft agency accused the former NHIS boss of allegedly awarding N28 million in contracts to his nephew and firms linked to his interests, alongside allegations of an N90 million fraud.
However, speaking on Arise TV on Sunday Yusuf vehemently denied these claims, framing his arrest as a politically motivated attack aimed at silencing his outspoken criticism of corruption.
Yusuf recounted the events leading to his detention, which included six days in an EFCC cell and 24 days in Kuje Prison.
He described the conditions of his detention as degrading, emphasizing the psychological impact of being treated as a criminal despite his distinguished career in public service.
He stated: “On the 29th of January this year, at about 6:30pm, my wife came up to my room and said there were some gentlemen who knocked and just walked into the house. They walked in through the door and said they wanted to see me, claiming I was expecting them.
“They said they were from the EFCC and had come to take me. I said, ‘Guys, you haven’t even introduced yourselves.’ They quickly brought out their badges and confirmed they were from the EFCC.”
The former NHIS boss said the operatives blocked him from changing his clothes and stopped his wife from bringing him a change of clothing.
He added that he was sandwiched between an armed officer and a young operative in the bus, who high-fived themselves “as if they had captured a notorious criminal like Kachalla Bello Turji”.
He continued: “The denial of bail was wrong. Bail is a constitutionally guaranteed right for any accused person, except in cases of capital offences or terrorism, and my case was neither.
“This government deliberately denied me bail to shake me up. I spent six days at the EFCC and 24 days in Kuje prison — all to try and silence me. But I am not someone who can be silenced.
“The whole purpose was for the government of President Bola Tinubu to try to silence any form of dissent. This is coming from a president who himself was once a NADECO activist — someone who fought against the military, ran across the border and fled to safety.
“Criticising a government in a democracy is the legitimate right of every citizen. But now, President Bola Tinubu is trying to stifle dissent and turn Nigeria into a one-party dictatorial state. We are not going to let that happen.”
It would be recalled that Yusuf was appointed executive secretary of the NHIS in 2016 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. He was suspended in 2017 and later relieved of his position
