EFCC Grills NHIS Managers Over N919m ‘Fraud’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned some contractors of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) after grilling managers of the scheme on Monday.

The NHIS managers were quizzed over an alleged N919 million fraud perpetrated under the watch of its Executive Secretary, Usman Yusuf.

Recall that Yusuf, who was last year suspended by the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, over the alleged fraud, was recently reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Adewole’s panel had amongst others revealed that one of NHIS’ managers directed a contractor, GK Kanki Foundation, to pay N2.8m into a Skye Bank account belonging to one Magaji Garba.

Yusuf’s surprising recall in spite of the panel report submitted to the EFCC had drawn controversy, with some staff of the scheme staging protests.

Addressing the controversy, the Minister of Information, Alh. Lai Mohammed, said last week that the ES’ recall was not a bar to any investigation.

EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, while confirming the interrogation of the NIHIS managers, said: “It is true. Some officials of the NHIS are being questioned by the commission.”

Meanwhile, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCN), yesterday, took to the Abuja headquarters of the NIHS to protest the reinstatement Yusuf.

ASCN’s Chairman, Razq Omomeji, said to newsmen during the protest: “Prof. Usman Yusuf has a case to answer at the EFCC. Our members have been invited. They got documents from us which we also gave to the ICPC. We love the President and even if he appoints a goat to lead us, we will accept it, but this man’s case is different.

“Prof. Yusuf claims to be fighting corruption but his hands are soiled. Some of our colleagues have gone to present evidence against him before the EFCC and the ICPC. He has marked them as whistle-blowers and he now wants to victimise them and we said no.

“We are calling on Yusuf to vacate his seat to enable the EFCC to do a thorough job. A lot has been given to the EFCC and the ICPC. They should make the report public.”

“The man is trying to manipulate records and cover his tracks. We want him to vacate his seat.”