Abuja – Professor Usman Yusuf accused a former Accountant General of illegally taking N10 billion from National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) funds. Yusuf is the former head of NHIS. He named Ahmed Idris, the ex-Accountant General, as the person responsible. Yusuf stated Idris withdrew N10 billion without approval. The money left the NHIS Treasury Single Account (TSA) in two transactions. This alleged illegal NHIS funds withdrawal requires investigation.
He described his own work regarding NHIS finances. He tried to recover over N100 billion. This money was located in 13 commercial banks. An independent audit confirmed these funds existed outside the central account. Yusuf noted a government directive: all agencies had to move funds to the Central Bank’s TSA by September 2015. He stated the N10 billion withdrawal by Idris violated this rule.
Recovery Efforts Faced Problems
He said the alleged illegal NHIS funds withdrawal happened while he attempted to centralize NHIS money. He reported asking senior officials for help retrieving the bank-held funds. He claims the Minister of Health and the Central Bank Governor did not assist. He maintains Idris lacked authority for the N10 billion withdrawal. This action is the basis of the alleged illegal NHIS funds withdrawal claim.
Allegations Surface Amid Other Charges
These accusations come as he faces separate charges from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC charged Yusuf concerning contract awards and inflating technology budgets during his NHIS leadership. The EFCC alleges Yusuf improperly gave contracts to family members. He denies these charges. He claims his anti-corruption efforts at NHIS prompted this scrutiny. He noted previous interactions with the EFCC related to his reform attempts.
Abdullah Korede
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