Prof Usman Yusuf’s Arrest: Family Writes US Govt, Seeks Diplomatic Intervention
The family of former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, has written to the United States (US) Government seeking diplomatic intervention towards the quick release of their father currently detained by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The family conveyed their feelings publicly in separate letters written by Yusuf’s wife, Iftikar Abdallah Yusuf, and his three children.
The wife’s letter dated 18th February 2025, was addressed to the American Embassy, titled “Re: Request For Consular Assistance For My Husband Professor Usman Yusuf”.
Similarly, the letter, jointly written by Yusuf’s three sons, Abdullah, Adnan, and Luqman, was addressed to the Senator for Chicago, Illinois, USA, Senator Richard J. Durbin, and titled; “Re: Request for the immediate release of our father, Prof Usman Yusuf”
In her letter, Yusuf’s wife requested the American Embassy to assist in securing his immediate release, respect for his rights, and a fair hearing.
Also noting that the family members are dual citizens of the USA and Nigeria, she requested Consular assistance for her husband, whom she said was being unlawfully held and politically persecuted.
According to her; “My husband’s constitutionally guaranteed rights have been repeatedly violated by President Bola Tinubu’s government by being forcefully abducted from his home by heavily armed men of the EFCC without a formal invitation to appear before the commission and abducting him without an arrest warrant, denying him phone calls to his family and lawyers, denying him bail and incarceration in Kuje Prison.
“Through his lawyers, he has denied all the charges brought against him but, as a result of these egregious violations of his rights, I am afraid that he will not receive a fair trial as he is entitled.
“I am also very concerned for his health as he has not been allowed access to his doctors. My husband’s abduction and detention by the EFCC, denial of bail, and incarceration in Kuje Prison are nothing but political persecution because he has been a very vocal critic of President Tinubu’s economic policies that have been inflicting unbearable hardships on Nigerians.”
On their part, the children raised concerns over their father’s health and alleged that he has not been allowed access to his doctors in detention.
Their letter read thus; “Our father’s abduction and detention by the EFCC, denial of bail, and incarceration in Kuje Prison are nothing but political persecution because he has been a very vocal critic of President Tinubu’s economic policies that have been inflicting unbearable hardships on Nigerians”.
Prof Yusuf is facing a five-count charge by the EFCC bordering on alleged embezzlement and conferment of undue advantage to himself, as the boss of the NHIS between 2016 and 2019, by approving the purchase of a vehicle at the cost of N49,197,750, against the budgeted sum of N30 million, among others.
However, the embattled ex-NHIS boss pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the anti-graft agency
When he appeared in Court on February 12, 2025, the presiding Judge, Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu adjourned the ruling on his bail application to February 27 while remanding the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Kuje, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
