Court adjourns arraignment of former NHIS boss Usman Yusuf to February 3
By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kuje has postponed the arraignment of Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to February 3, 2025.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had taken Yusuf into custody on Wednesday and brought him before the court on Thursday for arraignment over allegations of fraud.
However, the proceedings were deferred to Monday to allow for amendments to the charges.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed this development in a statement.During the court session, Isah Dokto Haruna, who represented the lead defense counsel O.I. Habeeb, SAN, applied for bail on behalf of the defendant.
However, the court denied the request due to the postponed arraignment.
Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu ruled that Yusuf be held in EFCC custody until his arraignment on the scheduled date.
Yusuf’s arrest and impending prosecution stem from a petition submitted to the Federal Government during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which alleged misconduct and fraudulent activities.
Reports indicate that in 2019, Buhari dismissed Yusuf from his position, following a recommendation from a fact-finding panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Health.
The panel had accused him of mismanaging N919 million.