The reinstatement of the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Usman Yusuf, will not affect the investigation being carried out on the alleged financial scam against him.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this known on Wednesday while speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja.
His words: “I am not aware that the EFCC is investigating the recently reinstated executive secretary of NHIS but if that is the case I don’t think his reinstatement is a bar to any investigation.”
Yusuf was recalled by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday after being suspended by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, last year over alleged financial scam.
Adewole was informed of Yusuf’s recall in a letter with reference number, ‘SH/COS/10/6/A/29’ by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.
In the letter which reached the minister on Tuesday, Yusuf was directed to work harmoniously with his boss.
It is not known however when the NHIS boss will resume work.
As at Tuesday, it was gathered that he was still being grilled by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
He is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, over a fraud involving N919 million.
A committee set up by Adewole had last year investigated the scam which Yusuf was said to have been involved in.
The report of the probe which was submitted to President Buhari last September indicted the NHIS boss.
He was said to have truly abused his office.
The probe panel said Yusuf colluded with others to perpetrate fraud to the tune of over N919 million.
The money was said to be paid in an alleged shady manner for consultancy and staff training.
As part of its recommendations, the panel advised the EFCC to probe Yusuf over the N919 million scam.
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He was said to have violated the Procurement Act of 2007 by his actions.
The probe panel which threw light on how the scam was carried out said the number of trainees was increased beyond the number of employees at the agency.
Also, some employees were registered for the same training in two different states at the same time, the probe panel said.
Meanwhile, a day after his recall, Adewole and the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Malam Attahiru Ibrahim, were on Wednesday summoned to the Presidency.
Head, Media and Public Relations of NHIS, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The summon is believed to be in connection with the reinstatement of the Executive Secretary of the NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf, on Tuesday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Osinlu also disclosed that the recalled NHIS boss had not resumed office.
His words: “NHIS Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf is yet to resume office after his reinstatement by the Federal Government on Tuesday, February 6.
“The Acting Executive Secretary, Malam Attahiru Ibrahim, and the Minister of Health, Prof. Issac Adewole, were invited to the Presidential Villa and we are waiting the outcome of the meeting.”
