Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), is trending due to his recent arrest and outspoken criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Yusuf alleges that his detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent.
On January 29, 2025, EFCC operatives arrested Yusuf at his Abuja residence without presenting an arrest warrant.
He was detained for six days before being arraigned on February 3 on a five-count charge, including allegations of embezzlement and conferring undue advantage, totaling approximately N90 million.
Yusuf pleaded not guilty and was remanded in Kuje prison for 24 days before being granted bail
Yusuf claims that his arrest and detention were orchestrated to intimidate him and suppress his critical views of the government.
He described his treatment as akin to that of a notorious criminal and criticized the denial of bail as unconstitutional, asserting that it was an attempt to stifle democratic criticism.
The EFCC, however, maintains that Yusuf's arrest was based on credible allegations of financial misconduct during his tenure at NHIS. The charges include inflating the agency’s ICT budget and awarding contracts to companies linked to his relatives.
Yusuf's case has sparked widespread debate on social media and in political circles, highlighting concerns about the use of anti-corruption agencies to target government critics. As the legal proceedings continue, the public remains divided on whether Yusuf's arrest is a legitimate anti-corruption effort or a politically motivated action to silence opposition voices.
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