Northern elders criticize arrest of Nigeria’s ex-NHIA boss Usman Yusuf as court orders EFCC custody
The former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Usman Yusuf, has been remanded in custody by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kuje, Abuja.
The court’s decision came after Yusuf was on Wednesday arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges related to alleged abuse of office and procurement fraud.
Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu presided over the case and ruled against granting bail to Yusuf, citing that his arraignment had been rescheduled for February 3, 2025, to allow the EFCC time to amend the charges.
Usman Yusuf faces multiple counts of procurement fraud involving contracts totaling approximately N77.6 million. These allegations include:
Undue Advantage: He is accused of approving a vehicle purchase costing N49.197 million, significantly exceeding the budgeted amount of N30 million.
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Conflict of Interest: Yusuf allegedly awarded contracts to companies in which he or his family members had interests without following proper procurement processes.
Misrepresentation: One specific charge involves awarding a contract worth N10.1 million for training 90 individuals when only 45 participated.
Additional Contracts: Other counts involve awarding a contract worth N771.4 million for risk management training and another for media consultancy valued at N17.5 million, both linked to entities associated with him or his relatives.
These actions are said to violate sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Act, 2000, as well as the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
Reactions
The arrest has sparked political reactions, particularly from the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), which condemned it as politically motivated aimed at silencing opposition voices against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
NEF spokesperson Prof. Abubakar Jika Jiddere criticized the arrest as an attempt to intimidate political opponents and suppress democratic discourse in Nigeria.
Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi also expressed concerns about the timing and nature of Yusuf’s arraignment amidst national political uncertainties and economic challenges.
Usman Yusuf’s arrest is surrounded by serious allegations of corruption during his tenure at NHIA, leading to significant political backlash from various groups who view this action as an attempt to stifle dissenting voices in Nigeria’s current political landscape.
