By Bartholomew Madukwe

Former Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Femi Thomas, has denied buying land for the scheme without due process.

He also denied involvement in enrolling ghost subscribers in the scheme leading to a fraud of N327 million.

Ex-NHIS boss, Femi-Thomas

His denial came against the backdrop of his investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, ICPC.

Thomas said the purchase of the land was approved by the Federal Ministry of Health Tenders Board.

The former NHIS boss, who disclosed these while addressing journalists in Lagos yesterday, said: “The ICPC accused me of buying a land for the NHIS valued at N990m and that I pocketed 10 per cent of the money. That was a lie. ‘Actually, the property was approved by the Federal Ministry of Health Tenders Board. It was not approved by NHIS. Also, there was an evaluation by the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing before the land was paid for. The ministry did its evaluation and said it was worth N1.5billion yet we were able to negotiate to N990 million.’’

On the alleged enrolment of ghost enrollees which allegedly led to a fraud of N327 million, Thomas said it happened before he assumed office.

Thomas said the fresh allegation was a clear evidence of the desperation of his enemies to pull him down.

“This fresh allegation is a clear evidence of the desperation of my enemies to nail me and pull me down at all costs. I resumed as the Executive Secretary of the NHIS in November 2013, long after the purported ghost enrollees scheme was conceived and or executed, if indeed it was. So how can I be held responsible for a crime committed when I was not yet in office?

“On the contrary, I was the one who asked for the repatriation of overpayment to HMOs when I resumed office.

‘’I also carried out an integrity check probe of HMOs which resulted in the sacking of some HMOs in 2014. How can I scale through the hurdle if I had compromised by collaborating with HMOs on a fraudulent matter?”