Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, arraigned a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, before Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuchiako, Kuje.
Usman was arraigned on a five-count charge, bordering on embezzlement, conferring undue advantage, and fraud to the tune of N90.4 million. Count one of the charge reads that Yusuf, sometime between 2016 and July 2017, whilst being Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja, used his position to confer unfair advantage to himself, when he approved the purchase of a vehicle for himself at the cost of N49.19 million, against the appropriated budget sum of N30 million, and thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 22 and punishable under the same Section of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count two reads: “That you, Prof. Usman Yusuf sometime between 2016 and 2017 whilst being the Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja, knowingly held a private interest in the corporate entity known as GK Kanki Foundation, and without due process, awarded a contract in the sum of N10 million, in favour of the GK Kanki Foundation, for the purported training of 90 persons, which actual number of participants trained were 45 persons and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 and punishable under the same section of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000,” among others. He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of the defendant’s plea, prosecution counsel, Francis Usani, prayed the court for a trial date. Defence counsel, O.I. Habeeb, SAN, did not oppose Usani’s application for trial date. He, however, prayed the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the EFCC.
In her ruling, Justice Nwecheonwu adjourned the matter till February 12, 2025 for hearing on the bail application and remanded the defendant in Kuje Correctional Facility.
