The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuchiako, Kuje, on Thursday, January 30, 2025, rescheduled the arraignment of Prof. 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 arrested Yusuf on Wednesday, January 29, 2024, and brought him before the court the following day to face allegations of fraud. However, the arraignment was postponed to allow for amendments to the charges.
Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu of the FCT High Court ruled that the defendant, who was arrested following a raid on his Abuja residence, would be remanded in EFCC custody until the new arraignment date.
During the court session, Yusuf’s defence counsel, Isah Dokto Haruna, who represented O.I. Habeeb SAN, made a bail application. However, the request was denied due to the postponement of the arraignment.
Yusuf, a professor of haematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation, was arrested by gun-wielding EFCC operatives in the presence of his wife and children. Reports indicate that his arrest is related to an alleged mismanagement of ₦919 million, which led to his dismissal in 2019 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
The case will resume on February 3, 2025, when Prof. Yusuf will formally be arraigned on the fraud charges.
