A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Kuje has ordered the remand of a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf in Kuje prison pending the determination of his bail application.
Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu issued the order on Monday after Yusuf was arraigned and he pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge bordering on fraud, brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Shortly after his plea was taken, his lawyer, O.I Habeeb urged the court to allow his client to remain in the custody of the EFCC (from where he was brought to court) pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
Justice Nwecheonwu rejected the defence lawyer’s request, noting that the defendant could not be kept in the custody of the EFCC after his arraignment.
She proceeded to order that Yusuf be remanded at the Kuje prison in Abuja and adjourned till February 12 for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application.
In the charge, the EFCC accused Yusuf of allegedly using his position at the time to confer an undue advantage to himself by approving the purchase of a vehicle at the cost of N49,197,750, against the budgeted sum of N30,000,000.
The EFCC equally accused him of retaining a private interest in GK Kanki Foundation, and without due process, awarding a contract in the sum of N10.1 million in favour of the foundation, for the purported training of 90 persons — when the actual number of trainees was 45.
