Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Professor Usman Yusuf, a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The arrest took place on Wednesday at his residence in Abuja.
Eyewitnesses say that the operation was carried out in the late afternoon, around 4:46 p.m., in the presence of his family. Armed EFCC officials arrived at his home and took him away to an undisclosed location. The specific reason for his arrest has not been officially confirmed, but there are speculations that it may be related to his time in office at NHIS.
An anonymous source told DAILYPOST, “The reason for his arrest can’t be made public now because investigations are still ongoing. What I know is that he’s in custody and he will help the detectives in their investigations.”
Yusuf, a professor of hematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation, was appointed as the head of NHIS in 2016. However, his tenure was marked by controversy. In 2017, he was suspended over allegations of financial misconduct but was reinstated later that year.
In 2019, he was finally removed from office by former President Muhammadu Buhari. His dismissal followed a recommendation by a fact-finding panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Health. The panel accused him of mismanaging N919 million in NHIS funds.
