By Luminous Jannamike, ABUJA

Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kuchiako, Kuje, has rescheduled the arraignment of Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, to 3 February 2025.

Yusuf was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday and brought to court on Thursday, facing allegations of fraud.

His arrest is linked to serious accusations of financial mismanagement, contract fraud, and abuse of office.

EFCC investigations revealed that he allegedly inflated the NHIS ICT budget from ₦4.975 billion to ₦8.7 billion and approved payments that exceeded his official authority.

Furthermore, he is accused of awarding contracts to Lubekh Nigeria Limited, a company connected to his nephew, Khalifa Hassan Yusufu, without following the proper procedures and to firms that lacked the necessary expertise.

The arraignment was postponed to allow for amendments to the charges against him.

During the proceedings, the court denied a bail application made by Yusuf’s defence counsel, Isah Dokto Haruna, who represented lead counsel O. I. Habeeb (SAN).

The court ruled that the defendant should remain in the custody of the EFCC until the new arraignment date.