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NHIS Boss' Suspension Indefinitely Over N919m Fraud

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has extended the suspension handed to the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof Usman Yusuf over fraud. 
The suspension handed to the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof Usman Yusuf by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has been extended indefinitely after he was accused of fraud in a series of petitions.
 
The extention is in defiance of a resolution by the House of Representatives which asked him to reinstate Yusuf since July.
 
The minister had in July suspended Yusuf for three months and set up a committee to investigate the NHIS boss who was accused of fraud in a series of petitions. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo who was the acting President at the time had asked the minister to investigate Yusuf.
 
According to Punch, the committee set up by Adewole comprised senior officials of the ministry, the Department of State Services and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
 
Yusuf’s suspension coincided with an ongoing probe at the House wherein the NHIS boss had accused Health Management Organisations of frustrating the NHIS and perpetrating fraud worse than the oil subsidy.
 
The House, therefore, saw the suspension as an attempt to intimidate Yusuf and stifle its probe.
 
The letter of extension
 
The committee set up by the minister, however, found that fraud to the tune of N919m allegedly took place under Yusuf who had spent less than a year in office. The report was then sent to the President on September 4.
 
In a memo with reference number HMH/ABJ/032/Vol.XII/29 which was dated October 5, 2017, the minister informed Yusuf that his suspension which began in July, would continue until the President acted on the report.
 
Adewole said since the report had indicted Yusuf, there was no need for him to return to office.
 
The memo read in part, “Please refer to my earlier letter ref C405/T/132 dated July 6, 2017 suspending you from office for three months to allow for an uninterrupted administrative investigative committee to look into the various allegations against you including that of monumental fraud, gross abuse of office and nepotic acts inimical to the objectives of the NHIS under your leadership.

“The committee has since submitted its report which I have forwarded to his Excellency, Mr. President, for further action.

“While awaiting Mr. President’s directives and considering that the committee found you culpable in many areas of your performance as the executive secretary of the scheme, I am further extending your suspension from the office pending the decision of Mr. President on the report.”
 
According to the panel’s report the N919m was dubiously given as payment to consultants for staff training under the suspended NHIS boss.

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