By Abiola Olawale
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly arrested Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), over allegations of fraud and corruption.
According to reports, Yusuf was subsequently detained following an investigation into allegations of alleged financial mismanagement, contract fraud, and abuse of office leveled against him.
These actions were reported to have occurred following a petition filed against him in 2018, which accused him of engaging in fraudulent practices during his tenure as the head of the NHIS.
Yusuf is facing accusations of inflating the NHIS ICT budget from N4.975 billion to N8.7 billion and approving payments beyond his authorized limit.
Furthermore, there are allegations that he awarded contracts to companies linked to family members, notably Lubekh Nigeria Limited, where his nephew is a director.
It was gathered that Yusuf was arrested at his Abuja home and is set to be arraigned before Court 44, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Kuje, Abuja.
According to the court document, the EFCC charged Yusuf with allegedly using his position at the time to confer an undue advantage on himself by approving the purchase of a vehicle at the cost of N49,197,750 against the budgeted sum of N30,000,000.
The EFCC also accused Yusuf of retaining a private interest in the corporate entity known as GK Kanki Foundation and, without due process, awarding a contract in the sum of N10.1m in favour of the GK Kanki Foundation for the purported training of 90 persons — when the actual number of trainees was 45.
Part of the charges read: “That you, Prof Usman Yusuf sometime between 2016 and 2017 whilst being the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NIS) in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and being a public officer in the Services of National Health Insurance Scheme knowingly held a private interest in the corporate entity known as: Zaramat Global Services Limited, and without due procurement processes, awarded a contract in the sum of N771,428.58 Naira, in favour of Zaramat Global Services Limited for a training programme on Risk Management and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 54 Public Procurement Act, 2007, and punishable under the Section 45 (2) and (3) of the same Act.
“That you, P.of Usman Yusuf sometime between 2016 and 2017 whilst being the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court used your position to confer an undue advantage upon yourself and knowingly acquired a private interest in an entity known as Lubekh Nigeria Limited owned by your nephew, Khalifa Hassan Yusuf, by awarding to him a contract for media and special public relations consultancy in the sum of N17,500.000.00, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2 and punishable under the same Section of the Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Act, 2000.”
The New Diplomat reports that Yusuf became the executive secretary of the NHIS in 2016 after he was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He was suspended by the health minister in 2017 and the board of the NHIS in 2018 over alleged corruption and other irregularities in the running of the scheme.
He was thereafter removed as NHIS executive secretary after embarking on an administrative leave in 2019.
