Ex-NHIS Boss Usman Yusuf Speaks from Kuje Prison: Claims Political Persecution, Details VIP Detention

Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has expressed gratitude to those who have stood by him during his current legal troubles.

Yusuf, who was remanded in Kuje Prison over allegations of a ₦90 million fraud, shared his ordeal in a statement on Wednesday. He confirmed that he is being held in the VIP section of the prison, where he has observed the conditions of inmates firsthand.

Appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, Yusuf faced multiple suspensions and investigations during his tenure at NHIS. His recent detention stems from accusations of unauthorized payments amounting to ₦6.8 billion.

In his statement, Yusuf described his arrest as politically motivated, linking it to his speech at the Tafiyar Matasan Arewa summit, a Northern youth movement with branches across all 19 Northern states. He chaired the event, which took place in Bauchi on January 25, 2025, under the theme “The Role of Youths in Nation-Building.”

According to him, his call for the youth to take control of their future triggered his arrest. He emphasized that his speech, delivered in both Hausa and English, addressed critical issues facing the North under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Key Points of Yusuf’s Speech:

1. He blamed Northern leaders for the region’s suffering despite delivering 62% of the votes that brought the current government to power.
2. He described the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2023 as a deceitful ploy that has only deepened religious divisions.
3. He accused the government of using insecurity—via Boko Haram, banditry, and ethnic conflicts—to divide the North.
4. He lamented the worsening security crisis, which has left the region poorer and more unstable.
5. He condemned the weakening of traditional institutions, citing incidents in Kano and Adamawa states.
6. He accused the government of bribing religious leaders to pacify suffering citizens.
7. He alleged that government-backed Hausa musicians are being used to sow hatred between Northern Nigerians and their Nigerien neighbors.
8. He criticized Nigeria’s deteriorating relations with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, saying it threatens the North’s security and economy.
9. He expressed concerns over Tinubu’s growing alliance with France, calling it a dangerous sign for West Africa.
10. He urged the government to reverse its economic policies, which he believes are worsening citizens’ hardships.

Yusuf encouraged Northern youths to remain united, avoid violence, and actively participate in politics while resisting divisive tactics based on religion or ethnicity.

Arrest and EFCC Detention

Yusuf detailed how security agents allegedly trailed him after the summit. On the evening of January 29, 2025, EFCC operatives arrived at his home unannounced.

He described the moment two men in black suits knocked on his door, stating that he knew they were coming. Despite requesting an arrest warrant, he was told it was unnecessary. His attempt to change clothes was denied, and his phone was seized before he was bundled into a bus surrounded by armed policemen.

Yusuf alleged that his arrest was more about intimidating his family than about justice. His 14-year-old daughter was left shaken, and his wife was involved in a heated exchange with an EFCC operative.

Upon arrival at the EFCC headquarters, he was handed a list of charges and asked to sign. Despite fasting for 20 hours, he was given only a bottle of water and was denied access to a phone call.

His first night in EFCC detention was spent in a cell with three other detainees. Many inmates recognized him and offered support. Though the conditions were harsh, his cellmates treated him with respect.

Court Proceedings and Kuje Prison Experience

On February 3, 2025, Yusuf appeared in court for arraignment. The EFCC was unprepared, leading the judge to adjourn his case to February 12, meaning he had to spend nine more days in Kuje Prison.

Upon arrival at Kuje, he was placed in the segregation unit for VIPs. Despite some privileges, he noted the psychological impact of being locked in a 10×6-foot cell for 11 hours daily, monitored by guards and CCTV cameras.

Yusuf likened Kuje Prison to a strict boarding school, where prisoners self-police. He observed that many inmates had been awaiting trial for over a decade, making up 79% of the prison population. The facility, originally built for 560 inmates, now houses 960.

While in detention, he visited the prison’s mosque, clinic, library, and skills acquisition center, speaking with inmates accused of various crimes, from terrorism to fraud. He expressed concern over the high number of young people wasting away in prison due to prolonged trials.

Further Court Delays

On February 12, 2025, when he expected his bail hearing, the judge postponed the ruling to February 27, extending his time in Kuje by another 15 days.

Yusuf maintained that his fight is not with the EFCC but with what he described as President Tinubu’s oppressive government. He vowed to continue advocating for justice, even from behind bars.

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