- The anti-graft agency arraigned him on five counts of corruption, including embezzlement, abuse of office, and the unlawful award of contracts.
After weeks in incarceration, Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been granted bail.
Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja ruled on his bail on Thursday morning.
He is facing multiple corruption charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency arraigned him on five counts of corruption, including embezzlement, abuse of office, and the unlawful award of contracts.
According to the EFCC, Yusuf authorized the purchase of a vehicle at an inflated cost of ₦49.1 million, significantly exceeding the budgeted ₦30 million. He is also accused of awarding a ₦10.1 million training contract to a foundation linked to him, despite only half of the intended beneficiaries participating. Furthermore, the anti-graft agency claims he funneled a ₦17.5 million contract to his nephew’s company for media consultancy services without due process.
Following his arraignment, Yusuf was remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility while awaiting the court’s decision on his bail application, which had been adjourned to February 27.
Despite the charges, Yusuf has insisted that his prosecution is politically motivated. In a statement from detention, he accused the government of using security agencies to persecute him due to his vocal criticism of national issues.
He specifically pointed to a speech he delivered at a youth summit in Bauchi, where he criticized President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and alleged the marginalization of Northern Nigeria. According to Yusuf, his arrest was carried out in a “Gestapo-style operation,” with security operatives trailing him after the summit before whisking him away from his residence without prior notice.
Yusuf further alleged that his detention was part of a broader move to silence on oppositions and dissents, accusing the EFCC of trying to dehumanize him and tarnish his reputation.
The EFCC, however, has dismissed Yusuf’s allegations as an attempt to divert attention from the charges against him. The agency insists that the evidence against him is solid, emphasizing that his failure to comply with an earlier administrative bail condition demonstrated his reluctance to cooperate with investigators.
With his bail now granted, the legal battle between Yusuf and the anti-graft agency is set to continue as the case progresses in court.
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