Revoke NHIS boss recall, says Falana SAN

Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the Federal Government
to stop the reinstatement of Executive Secretary of National Health
Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf.

Yusuf resumed work yesterday, according to Head of Media and
Public Relations of NHIS, Mr Ayo Osinlu.

Osinlu said: “NHIS Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf,
resumed office today (February 8) after his reinstatement by the
Federal Government on February 6.”

Yusuf was suspended last June by Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac
Adewole, following allegations of gross misconduct.

Security agents were seen keeping vigil on the premises of the
organization in Abuja.

In a statement yesterday in Lagos, Falana said: “In line with
the provisions of the Public Service Rules, the former Secretary to
the Government of the Federation (SGF) and former Director-General
of the National Intelligence Agency, Messers Babachir Lawal and Ayo
Oke, were suspended pending the conclusion of investigations into
allegations of corrupt practices and money laundering levelled
against them.

“But the established principle has just been set aside by
President Muhammadu Buhari in this case.

“In a bid to play on the intelligence of Nigerians, the Federal
Government has said the allegation of the criminal diversion of the
over N900 million involving the Executive Secretary has not been
swept under the carpet and that his purported reinstatement will
not stop the investigation being conducted by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“The Federal Government should be advised to stop insulting the
intelligence of Nigerians. Since Section 42 of the Constitution
bans the Federal Government from according preferential treatment
to any citizen, the reinstatement of Prof Yusuf cannot be justified
in law. It should be withdrawn by President Buhari without
delay.”

Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the Federal Government
to stop the reinstatement of Executive Secretary of National Health
Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf.

Yusuf resumed work yesterday, according to Head of Media and
Public Relations of NHIS, Mr Ayo Osinlu.

Osinlu said: “NHIS Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf,
resumed office today (February 8) after his reinstatement by the
Federal Government on February 6.”

Yusuf was suspended last June by Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac
Adewole, following allegations of gross misconduct.

Security agents were seen keeping vigil on the premises of the
organization in Abuja.

In a statement yesterday in Lagos, Falana said: “In line with
the provisions of the Public Service Rules, the former Secretary to
the Government of the Federation (SGF) and former Director-General
of the National Intelligence Agency, Messers Babachir Lawal and Ayo
Oke, were suspended pending the conclusion of investigations into
allegations of corrupt practices and money laundering levelled
against them.

“But the established principle has just been set aside by
President Muhammadu Buhari in this case.

“In a bid to play on the intelligence of Nigerians, the Federal
Government has said the allegation of the criminal diversion of the
over N900 million involving the Executive Secretary has not been
swept under the carpet and that his purported reinstatement will
not stop the investigation being conducted by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“The Federal Government should be advised to stop insulting the
intelligence of Nigerians. Since Section 42 of the Constitution
bans the Federal Government from according preferential treatment
to any citizen, the reinstatement of Prof Yusuf cannot be justified
in law. It should be withdrawn by President Buhari without
delay.”