KEY POINTS

• The former NHIS boss faced arrest after distributing contracts to his familial connections.
• The EFCC alleges Yusuf artificially increased NHIS’s information and communication technology budget by billions of naira.
• The EFCC plans to present financial misconduct charges against the former NHIS boss at his trial scheduled for Thursday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conducted an arrest of Prof. Usman Yusuf who previously served as Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) related to contract fraud accusations.

Yusuf faces charges of distributing government contracts among family members and raising the ICT budget at the agency from N4.975 billion to N8.7 billion.

The EFCC sources confirmed the former manager at NHIS routinely finalized payments that exceeded the scope of his responsibilities.

Internal investigators found Yusuf giving business contracts to Lubekh Nigeria Limited that directly belonged to his nephew Khalifa Hassan Yusufu.

Law enforcement confirmed the Wednesday night arrest of Yusuf ahead of his planned court appearance for Thursday.

Former NHIS Executive Director faced allegations

Yusuf committed violations of procurement regulations when he employed his position to procure things that benefited him personally according to an EFCC official.

Furthermore, through its investigation the commission established Yusuf engaged in non-procedural contract distribution which benefited incompetent corporate entities.

Responding to queries the EFCC’s Media and Publicity department head Dele Oyewale stated that Yusuf was under arrest but declined to discuss the matter further.