N90.4m alleged fraud: Court accepts additional exhibits against professor Usman Yusuf

By Anas Abbas

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Kuchiako, Kuje, Abuja, on Wednesday admitted additional documentary evidence in the ongoing trial of former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, over an alleged N90.4 million fraud.

Presiding judge, Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu, ruled that the documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were admissible in law, noting that there was no objection from the defence counsel, O.I. Habeeb, SAN.

The documents were presented through the second prosecution witness, James Balami, Director of Procurement at the NHIS, during earlier proceedings held on January 5, 2026. At Wednesday’s sitting, prosecution counsel Francis Usani formally applied for their admission in evidence.

Justice Nwecheonwu subsequently admitted and marked as exhibits of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of letters dated November 11, 2016, marked E1–E32. Also admitted were the CTC of the NHIS Procurement Plan for 2016, marked F1–F4; the CTC of the 2017 Procurement Plan, marked G1–G5; and the CTC of the NHIS Procurement Act 2016, marked H1–H2.

While being led to evidence, the witness told the court that he honoured an invitation by the EFCC and submitted relevant documents to the Commission. He added that he made five separate statements to investigators.
“After I took those documents to the Commission, I made statements. The statements were not made in one day. I can recognize the statements. There are five,” he said.

However, an attempt by the prosecution to tender the witness’s extra-judicial statements was opposed by the defence. Following arguments from both sides, the court adjourned proceedings to May 13 and 14, 2026, for a ruling on the admissibility of the statements and for continuation of trial.
Yusuf is facing a five-count charge filed by the EFCC bordering on alleged embezzlement, conferring undue advantage, and fraud amounting to N90,439,178.00. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial continues.