Prof. Usman Yusuf, a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after his Abuja home was raided by the officials.
The anti-graft agency arrested the professor of haematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation in his house in the presence of his wife and children at about 4:46pm on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
The Head of Media and Publicity for the Commission, Dele Oyewale, confirmed this to Channels Television in a telephone conversation.
According to the Commission, he will be arraigned on Thursday 30th January.
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 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.
A source told the Punch that Yusuf was arrested for allegedly awarding contracts to family members while in office.
“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,” the source said.
“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.”
