Ex-NHIS Boss, Yusuf Who Claimed Persecution For Opposing Tinubu Granted Bail Over Fraud Charges

A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has granted bail to Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The ruling was delivered by Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu on Thursday morning. However, the specific conditions for his bail were not disclosed.

Yusuf is currently facing multiple corruption charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was arraigned on five counts, including embezzlement, abuse of office, and the unlawful award of contracts.

The EFCC accused him of inflating the price of a vehicle purchase to ₦49,197,750, even though only ₦30,000,000 was allocated. He was also alleged to have awarded a ₦10.1 million training contract to a foundation linked to him, despite only half of the intended participants benefiting from it. Additionally, he was accused of giving a ₦17.5 million media consultancy contract to his nephew’s company without following proper procedures.

After his arraignment, Yusuf was held at the Kuje correctional facility while awaiting the court’s decision on his bail application, which was postponed to February 27. Despite the charges against him, he has denied any wrongdoing, calling the case politically motivated.

While in detention, he claimed that security agencies were being used to silence him for speaking out on national issues. He referenced a speech he gave at a youth summit in Bauchi, where he criticized the government’s economic policies and alleged that Northern Nigeria was being marginalized.

Yusuf described his arrest as a “Gestapo-style” operation, stating that security officials followed him after the summit and arrested him at his home without prior notice. He also alleged that while in EFCC custody, he was denied access to his legal team and family before being transferred to Kuje Prison.

Reflecting on his time in detention, he said, “The conditions of Kuje Prison reminded me of my boarding school days. The real criminals are in government, while our youth waste away in detention.” He claimed that his detention was part of a broader attempt to suppress dissent and that the EFCC’s real aim was to discredit and humiliate him.

The EFCC, however, dismissed Yusuf’s allegations, insisting that the charges against him were backed by evidence. The agency also pointed out that he had previously failed to meet the conditions of an administrative bail, showing a lack of cooperation with investigators.
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