The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has grilled a few
managers and invited some contractors of the National Health
Insurance Scheme.
It was learnt on Monday that more officials had also been
invited by the EFCC to explain their role in the N919m fraud
allegedly perpetrated by the recently reinstated Executive
Secretary of the NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf.
Some officials of the NHIS were also said to have accepted
bribes from contractors.
For instance, in a report submitted to the EFCC by a panel set
up by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, it was alleged
that a contractor, GK Kanki Foundation, was directed by one of the
managers at the NHIS to pay N2.8m into a Skye Bank account with
number 1040569204 belonging to one Magaji Garba.
The report also indicted the General Manager, Human Resources,
Uwais Fatika; the General Manager, Finance, Mr. John Okoh; the
General Manager in charge of Procurement; an employee of the Bureau
of Public Procurement, Mr. Naziru Umar; and several other
companies.
Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, the Spokesman
for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said some officials had been
grilled while others had been invited.
Uwujaren, however, did not disclose the identities of the
persons.
He said, “It is true. Some officials of the NHIS are being
questioned by the commission.”
Addressing reporters during a protest at the headquarters of the
NHIS, the Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of
Nigeria at the NHIS, Mr. Razq Omomeji, said some of the persons who
had presented evidence against Yusuf at the EFCC were already being
victimised.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately remove
Yusuf so that the investigation would not be compromised.
Omomeji said, “Prof. Usman Yusuf has a case to answer at the
EFCC. Our members have been invited. They got documents from us
which we also gave to the ICPC. We love the President and even if
he appoints a goat to lead us, we will accept it, but this man’s
case is different.
“Prof. Yusuf claims to be fighting corruption but his hands are
soiled. Some of our colleagues have gone to present evidence
against him before the EFCC and the ICPC. He has marked them as
whistle-blowers and he now wants to victimise them and we said
no.
“We are calling on Yusuf to vacate his seat to enable the EFCC
to do a thorough job. A lot has been given to the EFCC and the
ICPC. They should make the report public.”
“The man is trying to manipulate records and cover his tracks.
We want him to vacate his seat.”
However, there was a face-off between the unionists and
supporters of the NHIS boss at the EFCC headquarters.
While the unionists demanded Yusuf’s removal, some workers
sympathetic to the NHIS boss accused the unionists of being
sponsored by corrupt persons who were against the reforms being
implemented by Yusuf.
Our correspondent, who witnessed the mild drama, noted that
policemen numbering almost 50 were deployed in the NHIS as early as
7.30am.
The workers who supported Yusuf said only those who were in
support of corruption were against Yusuf.
Mr. Uchenna Ewelike, who spoke on behalf of the workers, said
they were not paid to support Yusuf but were acting with honest
intention.
Ewelike said, “We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support
this focused and result oriented leadership in NHIS under Prof.
Usman Yusuf.
“The National Unions of MHWN and ASCSN should caution the
different factions of their local chapters in NHIS to re-channel
their energy in helping enrolees who are either poorly treated or
denied access on a regular basis.”
The President, had on Tuesday last week recalled Yusuf, who was
suspended by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on July
6, 2017.
In a letter with reference number, ‘SH/COS/10/6/A/29’, signed by
the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, the President
informed the minister of Yusuf’s recall, adding that he (Yusuf) had
been “admonished to work harmoniously” with the minister.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has grilled a few
managers and invited some contractors of the National Health
Insurance Scheme.
It was learnt on Monday that more officials had also been
invited by the EFCC to explain their role in the N919m fraud
allegedly perpetrated by the recently reinstated Executive
Secretary of the NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf.
Some officials of the NHIS were also said to have accepted
bribes from contractors.
For instance, in a report submitted to the EFCC by a panel set
up by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, it was alleged
that a contractor, GK Kanki Foundation, was directed by one of the
managers at the NHIS to pay N2.8m into a Skye Bank account with
number 1040569204 belonging to one Magaji Garba.
The report also indicted the General Manager, Human Resources,
Uwais Fatika; the General Manager, Finance, Mr. John Okoh; the
General Manager in charge of Procurement; an employee of the Bureau
of Public Procurement, Mr. Naziru Umar; and several other
companies.
Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, the Spokesman
for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said some officials had been
grilled while others had been invited.
Uwujaren, however, did not disclose the identities of the
persons.
He said, “It is true. Some officials of the NHIS are being
questioned by the commission.”
Addressing reporters during a protest at the headquarters of the
NHIS, the Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of
Nigeria at the NHIS, Mr. Razq Omomeji, said some of the persons who
had presented evidence against Yusuf at the EFCC were already being
victimised.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately remove
Yusuf so that the investigation would not be compromised.
Omomeji said, “Prof. Usman Yusuf has a case to answer at the
EFCC. Our members have been invited. They got documents from us
which we also gave to the ICPC. We love the President and even if
he appoints a goat to lead us, we will accept it, but this man’s
case is different.
“Prof. Yusuf claims to be fighting corruption but his hands are
soiled. Some of our colleagues have gone to present evidence
against him before the EFCC and the ICPC. He has marked them as
whistle-blowers and he now wants to victimise them and we said
no.
“We are calling on Yusuf to vacate his seat to enable the EFCC
to do a thorough job. A lot has been given to the EFCC and the
ICPC. They should make the report public.”
“The man is trying to manipulate records and cover his tracks.
We want him to vacate his seat.”
However, there was a face-off between the unionists and
supporters of the NHIS boss at the EFCC headquarters.
While the unionists demanded Yusuf’s removal, some workers
sympathetic to the NHIS boss accused the unionists of being
sponsored by corrupt persons who were against the reforms being
implemented by Yusuf.
Our correspondent, who witnessed the mild drama, noted that
policemen numbering almost 50 were deployed in the NHIS as early as
7.30am.
The workers who supported Yusuf said only those who were in
support of corruption were against Yusuf.
Mr. Uchenna Ewelike, who spoke on behalf of the workers, said
they were not paid to support Yusuf but were acting with honest
intention.
Ewelike said, “We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support
this focused and result oriented leadership in NHIS under Prof.
Usman Yusuf.
“The National Unions of MHWN and ASCSN should caution the
different factions of their local chapters in NHIS to re-channel
their energy in helping enrolees who are either poorly treated or
denied access on a regular basis.”
The President, had on Tuesday last week recalled Yusuf, who was
suspended by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on July
6, 2017.
In a letter with reference number, ‘SH/COS/10/6/A/29’, signed by
the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, the President
informed the minister of Yusuf’s recall, adding that he (Yusuf) had
been “admonished to work harmoniously” with the minister.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/alleged-n919m-fraud-efcc-quizzes-nhis-managers-invites-contractors/