The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, for alleged fraud at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
Yusuf, who was arrested by EFCC operatives on January 29, was arraigned on a five-count charge of fraud and other allied charges.
There were reports that the ex-NHIS boss was arrested for allegedly awarding contracts to family members while in office.
He was also accused of inflating the agency’s ICT budget from N4.975 billion to N8.7 billion and approving contracts beyond his threshold.
Yusuf was sacked by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari for alleged mismanagement of N919 million in July 2019.
At Monday’s proceeding, the defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defence counsel, O.I Habeeb, applied for his client’s bail.
He urged the court to remand the defendant in the EFCC custody pending the hearing of the bail application.
Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu rejected the plea and instead remanded the ex-NHIS chief at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
She adjourned the case till February 12 for hearing of the defendant’s bail application.