The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, February 3, 2025, arraigned the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, before Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuje, Abuja.
Yusuf was arraigned on a five-count charge, including embezzlement, conferring undue advantage, and fraud amounting to N90,439,178.00.
Count One:
“That you, Prof. Usman Yusuf, sometime between 2016 and July 2017, whilst being the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and being a public officer in the services of NHIS, used your position to confer unfair advantage to yourself when you approved the purchase of a vehicle for yourself at the cost of N49,197,775.00, against the appropriated budget sum of N30,000,000.00, thereby committing 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:
“That you, Prof. Usman Yusuf, sometime between 2016 and 2017, whilst being the Executive Secretary of 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 N10,100,000.00 for the purported training of 90 persons, when the actual number of participants trained was 45, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22 and punishable under the same section of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Count Four:
“That you, Prof. Usman Yusuf, sometime in 2016 and 2017, whilst being the Executive Secretary of NHIS in Abuja, used your position to confer 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 him a contract for media and special public relations consultancy in the sum of N17,500,000.00, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22 and punishable under the same section of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Yusuf pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
In view of the defendant’s plea, prosecution counsel Francis Usani requested a trial date. Defence counsel O.I. Habeeb, SAN, did not oppose the request for a trial date but asked the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the EFCC.
Justice Nwecheonwu adjourned the matter to February 12, 2025, for a hearing on bail and remanded Yusuf in the Kuje Correctional Facility.
