NHIA case: Court adjourns trial of Prof Yusuf to Nov 19

An FCT High Court has adjourned to November 19 and 20 for the continuation of the hearing on the case of a former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Prof Usman Yusuf, who is facing corruption allegations. Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu adjourned the matter after the conclusion of the cross-examination of the prosecution […]

An FCT High Court has adjourned to November 19 and 20 for the continuation of the hearing on the case of a former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Prof Usman Yusuf, who is facing corruption allegations.

Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu adjourned the matter after the conclusion of the cross-examination of the prosecution witness in the matter.

Earlier, the witness, a former director of the NHIA, Attahiru Ibrahim, admitted that he wrote the petition to the EFCC against Yusuf during his tenure at the NHIA.

However, the bereavement of the witness forced the court to jump the continuation of the trial yesterday.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Yusuf on five-count charges bordering on alleged embezzlement and conferment of undue advantage to himself, as the boss of the NHIS in 2016, by approving the purchase of a vehicle at the cost of N49,197,750, against the budgeted sum of N30,000,000.

The EFCC also accused Yusuf of retaining a private interest in a corporate entity known as GK Kanki Foundation, and, without due process, awarding a contract in the sum of N10.1 million, in favour of the GK Kanki Foundation, for the purported training of 90 persons, when the actual number of trainees was 45.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.