EFCC Arraigns Former NHIS Boss, Usman Yusuf for Alleged N90m Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, February 3, 2025, arraigned a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance scheme, NHIS, Professor Usman Yusuf before Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuchiako Kuje.
Usman was arraigned on a five count-charge bordering on embezzlement, conferring undue advantage, and fraud to the tune of N90, 439,178.00( Ninety Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy Eight Naira only)
Count one reads:
“That you, Prof Ismab Yusuf sometime between 2016 and July 2017, whilst being Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and being a public officer in the services of National Health Insurance Scheme used your position to confer unfair advantage to yourself when you approved the purchase of a vehicle for yourself at the cost of N49.197,75, against the appropriated budget sum of N30, 000,000,.00 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 and punishable under the same Section of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Count two reads:
“That you, Prof Usman Yusuf sometime between 2016 and 2017 whilst being the Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and being a public officer in the services of National Health Insurance Scheme, knowingly held a private interest in the corporate entity known as GK Kanki Foundation, and without due process, awarded a contract in the sum of Ten Million, One hundred Naira only (N10, 100,000.00), in favor of the GK Kanki Foundation, for the purported training of 90 person, which actual number of participants trained were 45 persons and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 and punishable under the same section of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Count four reads:
“That you, Prof Usman Yusuf sometime in 2016 and 2017 whilst being the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, (NHIS) in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used your position to confer undue advantage upon yourself and knowingly acquired a private interest in an entity known as Lubekh Nigeria Limited owned by your nephew, Khalifa Hassn Yusuf, by awarding him a contract for media and special public relations consultancy in the sum of N17,500,000.00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 and punishable under the same Section of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of the defendant’s plea, prosecution counsel Francis Usani prayed the court for a trial date . Defence counsel O.I Habeeb, SAN, did not oppose Usani’s application for trial date, he, however, prayed the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the EFCC.
In her ruling, Justice Nwecheonwu adjourned the matter to February 12, 2025 for hearing on the bail and remanded the defendant in Kuje Correctional Facility.
PR
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is meeting with the staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) in Abuja in an effort to resolve the ongoing industrial strike action that has disrupted flight operations across the country.
The closed-door meeting seeks to address grievances raised by NiMET workers, including the non-implementation of the national minimum wage, exclusion of certain employees from past allowances, and the neglect of critical training programmes.
Present at the meeting were the Director General of NiMET, representatives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the National Union of Transport Employees, and other key stakeholders.
Also in attendance are members of several unions, including the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the National Union of Air Transport Employees.
The strike, now in its second day, has significantly affected flight schedules at several airports, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, leaving passengers stranded.
In a statement, Air Peace cited safety concerns as the reason for its decision to suspend flights amid the disruption
In a bid to improve access to affordable housing across Nigeria, the Nigeria Government is set to introduce tax incentives aimed to reduce the burden on real estate developers and building material suppliers,
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, made this known at a Building and Construction Industry Forum in Abuja.
Mr. Oyedele noted that the recently signed tax reform bills include provisions that would lower the cost of building materials and stimulate investment in the construction sector.
According to him,“It will reduce the tax burden—whether you’re buying, building, or selling real estate,”
“That’s the essence of these reforms: to make life better for everyone and to boost economic activities in the building and construction sector, and by extension, the entire economy.”
He emphasized that the government’s commitment to creating more accessible mortgage options for Nigerians across all income levels and called for greater collaboration among industry stakeholders to address persistent issues such as multiple taxation.
Also speaking at the forum, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa—represented by Director of Public Building, Mr. Temitope Gbemi—highlighted the potential of the tax reforms to integrate the informal economy into the formal construction sector.
He encouraged builders and developers to incorporate capital gains into project planning for better cost documentation and tax planning.
Dr. Samson Opaluwa, Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), expressed optimism that the reforms would enhance revenue generation within the sector.
He underscored the need for inclusive discussions given the industry’s composition.
“This industry is largely driven by SMEs, which produce about 60 to 70 percent of the country’s housing stock,” he noted.
On his part, the Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Mr. Festus Adebayo, stressed the need for the government to provide incentives to developers interested in social housing. He criticized the high costs, multiple charges, and bureaucratic hurdles that make affordable housing a distant reality.
The Federal Government has commenced a three-day Induction Programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The programme is designed to strengthen strategic leadership and policy execution at the topmost level of the federal bureaucracy.
Declaring the programme open, in Abuja, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the appointees and described their roles as critical to effective governance and national development.
The Head of Service who noted that Permanent Secretaries serve as the engine room of government, responsible for driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and service-wide reform urged the inductees to uphold the highest standards of integrity, diligence, and teamwork,
She stressed that the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25) depends significantly on their leadership.
“This final lap of FCSSIP 25 calls for urgency, accountability, and strategic focus. You must translate vision into measurable results,” she said.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, described the programme as a strategic investment in leadership capacity and institutional effectiveness.
The Sessions featured expert-led discussions, simulations, and strategic briefings facilitated by Engr. Suleiman Adamu, former Minister of Water Resources; Dr. Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination; Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Federal Minister of Justice; Alh. Yusuf Addy, retired Federal Director; Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Amb. Mustapha Lawal Suleiman, Mr. Adesola Olusade, and Dr. Ifeoma Anagbogu, all retired Permanent Secretaries.
Participants include Dr. Obi Emeka Vitalis, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Mr. Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi, Mr. Olusanya Olubunmi, Dr. Keshinro Maryam Ismaila, Dr. Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma, Dr. Umobong Emanso Okop, Dr. Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen, Mrs. Oyekunle N. Patience, Dr. Kalba U. Danjuma, Mr. Nadungu Gagare, Mr. Onwusoro I. Maduka, Dr. Usman Salihu Aminu, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, Mr. Ndiomu Ebiogeh Philip, Dr. Anuma N. Ogbonnaya, Mr. Adeladan Rafiu Olaninre, and Mr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed, as well as the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi.
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