- Safiu Kehinde
Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, has been remanded in Kuje prison following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud.
Usman was arraigned before Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuje, Abuja, on a five-count amended charge.
According to report, the defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Counsel to the defendant, O.I Habeeb, thereafter requested that his client be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the hearing of the bail application.
The trial judge, Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu, however, pointed out that once the defendant was arraigned, he ceased to be in the custody of the EFCC.
While adjourning the case to February 12, 2025, Justice Chinyere ordered that Yusuf be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, pending the hearing of his bail application.
The former NHIS Executive Secretary is being accused of using his office to confer undue advantages to himself between 2016 and 2017.
He also allegedly awarded contracts without following the due procurement process.