A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC operatives arrested the professor of haematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation in his house 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 said that Yusuf is currently being held and grilled in EFCC custody.
One of the sources said, “ We have just arrested the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme,
Prof. Usman Yusuf. From our investigations, we found out that he awarded contracts to family members, including Lubekh Nigeria Limited, a company where his nephew Khalifa Hassan Yusufu is a director.
It was also said that he might be arraigned in court today, Thursday, January 30, 2024.
He also inflated the ICT budget from N4.975 billion to N8.7 billion and approved payments beyond his approval limit.
“In summary, Yusuf used his position for personal gains, including approving contracts without due process and awarding contracts to companies without competence.”
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.
Yusuf was relieved of his appointment in 2019 by the former President Muhammadu Buhari seven months after he was recommended for dismissal by a fact-finding panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Health over alleged mismanagement of N919m.