A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Usman Yusuf, at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
According to The PUNCH, Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu gave the ruling on Monday following Yusuf’s arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a five-count amended charge related to alleged fraud.
The charges against Yusuf, who led the NHIS from 2016 to 2017, include abuse of office for personal gain and awarding contracts without following due procurement procedures.
He pleaded not guilty to all counts when they were read to him in court.
Following his plea, his lawyer, O.I. Habeeb, requested that he be kept in EFCC custody until his bail application is heard.
However, Justice Nwecheonwu denied the request, stating that “once a defendant is arraigned, custody is transferred from the EFCC to the Nigerian Correctional Service.”
The judge then ordered Yusuf’s detention at Kuje Correctional Centre and set February 12, 2025, as the date for the bail hearing.
Atiku Reacts, Calls Detention ‘Politically Motivated’.
The continued detention of Yusuf has sparked criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who suggested that the move was politically driven.
In a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter), Atiku described Yusuf as a “fierce and unyielding social critic” and alleged that the government is using state institutions to target its opponents.
“Two days ago, the nation was jolted by the arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a fierce and unyielding social critic. Though the charges against him have been festering since the previous administration, it is impossible to ignore the strong likelihood that his detention is politically motivated,” Atiku wrote.
He further accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of “weaponizing pending investigations to suppress all opposition,” adding that the government itself is filled with officials “embroiled in scandals and investigations by both local and international authorities.”
As the case unfolds, attention will be on the court’s decision regarding Yusuf’s bail application on February 12.
