The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Prof. Usman Yusuf, today, Thursday, 30 January 2025.
Usman was arrested on Wednesday, January 29, when operatives of the EFCC stormed his Abuja home at about 4:30 p.m. and picked him up for alleged N4 billion fraud, among other infractions.
His arrest followed an ongoing investigation into an allegation that he inflated the NHIA’s ICT budget from N4.975 billion to N8.7 billion and approved payments beyond his approval limit.
According to the Head of Media and Publicity for the Commission, Dele Oyewale, in a Channels Television telephone conversation on Wednesday, a petition was submitted to the immediate past presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Health, over misconduct and fraudulent practices.
The EFCC is investigating Yusuf for also awarding contracts to a company known as Lubekh Nigeria Limited, where his nephew Khalifa Hassan Yusufu is a director.
Prof. Yusuf is also being held for financial mismanagement and abuse of office.
It is alleged that he used his position for personal gains, approving contracts without following due process and awarding contracts to firms that lacked the competence to execute projects.
