EFCC arrests ex-NHIS boss, Usman Yusuf, who called Tinubu’s economic team tax collectors
By OUR REPORTER, Abuja
Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, has been reportedly arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
His arrest followed the raid of his Abuja home of by the EFCC team, who picked him up according to Daily Trust.
Professor Yusuf, it would be recalled, had mid-last year criticised the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying his economic team looks more like tax collectors.
He was also shown in a vital video to have heavily criticised those who tried to shift the blame the current economic woes in the country under Tinubu to previous administration or North but that, Tinubu said ‘Emi Lokan’ and should do it and not blame anyone else.
It was learnt that the gun-wielding EFCC operatives, who came for him, arrested the professor of haematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation in his house in the presence of his wife and children at about 4:46pm on Wednesday over a yet-to-be-revealed offence.
Sources familiar with the development hinted that Yusuf was driven to an unknown location after he was picked up by the operatives.
Although details of his arrest were not disclosed by the operatives, sources said his arrest might not be unconnected with his activities when he held sway at NHIS.
“The reason for his arrest can’t be made public now because investigations are still ongoing. What I know is that he’s in custody and he will help the detectives in their investigations,” a highly-placed source reportedly said Wednesday night.
Yusuf was relieved of his appointment in 2019 by the former President Muhammadu Buhari seven months after he was recommended for dismissal by a fact-finding panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Health over alleged mismanagement of N919m.
When contacted, spokesman of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, reportedly said he would find out about the development and get back but he was yet to get back as promised as of when this report was filed.
