An Abuja High Court has postponed its decision on the bail application of Prof. Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), who is currently facing corruption allegations.
Presiding over the case on Wednesday, Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu ordered Yusuf’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Facility in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until the bail ruling set for February 27.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed five charges against Yusuf, accusing him of financial misconduct during his tenure at NHIA in 2016.
Among the allegations is his approval of a vehicle purchase for ₦49.2 million, exceeding the ₦30 million allocated for it in the budget.
The anti-graft agency also claims that Yusuf unlawfully awarded a ₦10.1 million contract to GK Kanki Foundation for training 90 individuals, while only 45 were actually trained.
Additionally, he is accused of awarding a ₦17.5 million media consultancy contract to Lubekh Nigeria Limited, a company linked to his nephew, Khalifa Hassan Yusuf.
Despite these allegations, Yusuf pleaded not guilty.
During Wednesday’s hearing, EFCC prosecutor Francis Usani opposed the bail request, arguing that the defendant had previously failed to comply with an administrative bail condition requiring him to report to EFCC offices twice a week.
Usani further alleged that Yusuf had boasted about his political influence and posed a flight risk.
“It took significant surveillance and intelligence efforts to locate and bring the defendant to court,” Usani told the judge.
However, Yusuf’s lawyer, O.I. Habeeb (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail, emphasizing that the charges against him were bailable offences.
