The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on
Wednesday raided the Abuja home of a former Executive Secretary of the National
Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, and arrested him for alleged
N4 billion fraud, amongst others.
PREMIUM TIMES exclusively gathered that EFCC
operatives arrested the professor of haematology-oncology and bone marrow
transplantation in his house in the presence of his wife and children at about
4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The arrest followed an ongoing investigation into an
allegation that he inflated ICT budget from N4.975 billion to N8.7 billion and
approved payments beyond his approval limit.
Sources familiar with the development told our
correspondent that Yusuf is currently being held and grilled in EFCC custody.
Document obtained by PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday night
revealed that EFCC is also investigating Mr Yusuf for awarding contracts to
family members.
“He awarded contracts to Lubekh Nigeria Limited, a
company where his nephew Khalifa Hassan Yusufu is a director,” a top EFCC
source told PREMIUM TIMES, adding that he is also being held for financial
mismanagement.
The former NHIS boss is also being probed for abuse of
office for allegedly “using his position for personal gains, including
approving contracts without due process and awarding contracts to companies
without competence.”
PREMIUM TIMES learned that investigation into these
allegations was prompted by a petition dated 31 October, 2018, signed by one
Attahiru Ibrahim.
The petition alleged fraudulent practices and impunity
perpetrated by Prof. Usman Yusuf during his tenure as Executive Secretary of
NHIS.
When contacted over the development, the spokesperson
for the EFCC – Dele Oyewale confirmed Mr Yusuf’s arrest to PREMIUM TIMES.
“Yes, Mr Yusuf is in our custody, he’ll be arraigned
in court on Thursday,” Mr Oyewale said.
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