BREAKING: EFCC Operatives Raid Home of Former NHIS Executive Secretary Usman Yusuf, Arrest Him

A prominent member of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Usman Yusuf, has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Chronicles Reporters learned of the arrest on Wednesday.

According to sources, Yusuf was taken into custody after a large number of EFCC officers stormed his residence.

“A truckload of EFCC operatives invaded Professor Usman Yusuf’s home and arrested him,” a source revealed.

Yusuf, who previously served as the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), first encountered legal troubles during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. His problems stemmed from a petition submitted to the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Health, accusing him of multiple offenses.

The petition, filed by a concerned group, outlined 12 allegations against Yusuf, including financial mismanagement, nepotism, insubordination, and unethical behavior.

Among the accusations was the alleged misappropriation of N860 million earmarked for training in 2016. He was also accused of violating procurement procedures while awarding contracts for e-library equipment and granting a media consultancy contract to his brother. Additionally, he was said to have collaborated with the NHIS finance and audit departments to authorize contractor payments before goods were delivered.

Further claims against him included the misuse of funds by approving financial assistance for an individual not enrolled in NHIS while denying the same support to a staff member, who later passed away.

Another serious allegation was that he approved N210 million for electronic media operations without following due process.

Yusuf was also accused of exceeding his N2.5 million spending limit without seeking approval from the supervising ministry. He allegedly facilitated the supply of substandard and counterfeit products to the agency, inflated contract costs by over 100%, and cited former President Buhari’s name to justify disobeying the Minister of Health.

Additionally, the petition claimed that he engaged in fraudulent practices while selecting an insurance broker for NHIS and imposed a flat N7.2 million fee for Health Management Organization (HMO) registration.

In May 2024, Yusuf made headlines when he strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that the Renewed Hope Agenda had instead resulted in widespread hopelessness.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, he expressed concern over the worsening economic conditions, arguing that Tinubu’s policies had left Nigerians struggling.

“People have lost hope. It pains me to see our citizens queuing up just to receive small portions of palliatives. The so-called ‘Renewed Hope’ has turned into hopelessness. The last year has been filled with nothing but deception, destitution, and despair,” Yusuf stated.

He further criticized the administration’s approach, saying, “From next week, they will start spreading propaganda. What have they done to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians? In just one year, they have pushed millions back into extreme poverty and forced more children out of school because their parents can no longer afford fees.”

Yusuf also condemned Tinubu’s economic team, claiming they were more focused on taxation than actual economic growth.

“This economic team looks more like tax collectors than economists. Taxation does not drive economic growth; only production does,” he argued.

Efforts to get a response from the EFCC regarding Yusuf’s arrest were unsuccessful, as the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached. His mobile phone remained switched off.

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