Ex-NHIS boss to remain in EFCC custody as court adjourns trial
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kuje has postponed the arraignment of former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, to Monday, February 3, 2025.
Yusuf, who was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, appeared before Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu on Thursday for his scheduled arraignment on fraud-related charges. However, the court adjourned the case to allow for an amendment of the charges.
During the brief court session, the defense counsel, Isah Dokto Haruna, standing in for lead counsel O.I. Habeeb, SAN, sought bail for the defendant.
However, Justice Nwecheonwu denied the request, ruling that bail at this stage was premature in the absence of a formal arraignment. Consequently, Yusuf will remain in EFCC custody until his next court appearance.
The EFCC had earlier confirmed Yusuf’s arrest, stating that he allegedly awarded contracts to family members while in office. He was also accused of inflating the NHIS ICT budget from N4.975 billion to N8.7 billion and approving payments beyond his authorized limit.
The case will resume on February 3, 2025, when Yusuf is expected to be formally arraigned.
