A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), who is facing multiple corruption charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Yusuf was arraigned on five counts, including embezzlement, abuse of office, and the unlawful award of contracts. The EFCC alleges that:
He inflated the cost of a vehicle purchase to N49.2 million, exceeding the approved budget of N30 million.
He awarded a N10.1 million training contract to a foundation linked to him, even though only half of the intended participants attended.
He diverted a N17.5 million media consultancy contract to his nephew’s company without following due process.
Following his arraignment, Yusuf was remanded at Kuje Prison while awaiting the court’s bail decision, which was scheduled for February 27, 2025.
Despite the charges, Yusuf has dismissed the case as politically motivated. In a statement from detention, he alleged that his outspoken criticism of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies and its treatment of Northern Nigeria led to his arrest.
He described his arrest as a “Gestapo-style operation”, claiming that security agents followed him after a speech at a youth summit in Bauchi and took him from his home without prior notice. He also alleged that he was denied access to legal counsel and family while in EFCC custody.
Upon his transfer to Kuje Prison, Yusuf was placed in the VIP section, where he met various inmates, including some facing terrorism-related charges. He described the prison conditions as overcrowded and unjust, stating that many detainees had been held for years without trial.
“The real criminals are in government, while our youth waste away in detention,” he said.
The EFCC has rejected Yusuf’s allegations, calling them an attempt to distract from the corruption charges. The agency insists that the evidence against him is strong and that he had previously failed to comply with bail conditions, showing a lack of cooperation with investigators.
While Yusuf has now been granted bail, the specific terms of his release have not yet been disclosed.
