A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), who is facing multiple corruption charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The ruling, delivered by Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu on Thursday, comes amid a storm of controversy, with Yusuf alleging that his prosecution is politically motivated. While the specific terms of his bail remain undisclosed, his legal team has expressed confidence that he will be able to meet the conditions.
Professor Yusuf is embroiled in a five-count charge of corruption, which includes embezzlement, abuse of office, and irregular contract awards. The EFCC has accused him of:
Inflating the cost of a vehicle purchase to N49.1 million, far exceeding the N30 million budgeted for it.
Awarding a N10.1 million training contract to a foundation linked to him, despite only half of the supposed beneficiaries participating.
Handing a N17.5 million media consultancy contract to his nephew’s company without due process.
Following his arraignment, the court had ordered his remand in Kuje Correctional Facility pending the ruling on his bail application, which was initially slated for February 27.
Despite the serious allegations, Yusuf has dismissed the charges as a ploy to silence him. In a statement from detention, he accused the Tinubu administration of weaponizing law enforcement agencies against critics.
He pointed to a speech he delivered at a youth summit in Bauchi, where he lambasted the government’s economic policies and decried the alleged marginalization of Northern Nigeria. According to him, his subsequent arrest was nothing short of an “abduction” executed in Gestapo-style, with EFCC operatives tracking him before whisking him away from his home without prior notice.
Inside Kuje Prison, Yusuf was held in the VIP section, where he encountered inmates facing terrorism-related charges. He described the grim conditions of the prison and exposed the failures of Nigeria’s justice system, claiming many detainees had been held for years without trial.
“The conditions of Kuje Prison reminded me of my boarding school days,” Yusuf remarked. “The real criminals are in government, while our youth waste away in detention.”
He further alleged that during his detention, he was denied access to his family and legal counsel, a tactic he believes was meant to break his spirit and tarnish his reputation.
In response, the EFCC has rubbished Yusuf’s claims, asserting that the case is built on solid evidence and that he is merely trying to divert attention from his alleged crimes. The anti-graft agency also noted that his failure to comply with an earlier administrative bail condition indicated a lack of cooperation with investigators.
With the trial set to continue, all eyes will be on the judiciary to determine whether Yusuf’s claims of persecution hold weight—or if he will face the full consequences of the law.
PIONEER NEWS 