Ex-NHIS boss: Tinubu trying to stifle dissent, turn Nigeria into one-party country

Usman Yusuf, former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of suppressing dissent and silencing critics.

Speaking on Arise TV on Sunday, Yusuf alleged that his detention was orchestrated to intimidate him and weaken his resolve against government actions.

In February, Yusuf was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud. He pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge before Chinyere Nwecheonwu, judge of a federal capital territory (FCT) high court.

Yusuf described his time in Kuje prison as a period of “retreat for rest, prayers, and reflection”, insisting that it strengthened his spirit.

Recounting the events of January 29, Yusuf said that men claiming to be from the EFCC invaded his home without an arrest warrant.

“On the 29th of January this year, at about 6:30 PM, my wife came up to my room and said there were some gentlemen who knocked and just walked into the house. They walked in through the door and said they wanted to see me, claiming I was expecting them,” he said.

“They said they were from the EFCC and had come to take me. I said, ‘guys, you haven’t even introduced yourselves.’ They quickly brought out their badges and confirmed they were from the EFCC.”

The former NHIS boss said the operatives blocked him from changing his clothes and stopped his wife from bringing him a change of clothing.

He added that he was sandwiched between an armed officer and a young operative in the bus, who high-fived themselves “as if they had captured a notorious criminal like Kachalla Bello Turji”.

Yusuf said he spent six days at the EFCC facility before his arraignment, adding that he was denied bail due to the judge’s cold, and then spent 24 days in Kuje prison.

“The denial of bail was wrong,” he said.

“Bail is a constitutionally guaranteed right for any accused person, except in cases of capital offences or terrorism, and my case was neither.

“This government deliberately denied me bail to shake me up. I spent six days at the EFCC and 24 days in Kuje prison — all to try and silence me. But I am not someone who can be silenced.

“The whole purpose was the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu trying to silence any form of dissent.

“This is coming from a president who himself was once a NADECO activist — someone who fought against the military, who ran across the border, and fled to safety.”

“Criticising a government in a democracy is the legitimate right of every citizen. But now, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is trying to stifle dissent and turn Nigeria into a one-party dictatorial state. We are not going to let that happen.”

Usman was appointed executive secretary of the NHIS in 2016 by then President Muhammadu Buhari.

He was suspended in 2017 by the health minister and in 2018 by the NHIS board for alleged corruption.

Yusuf was removed as NHIS executive secretary in 2019.