Lagos, Nigeria — Usman Yusuf, wey be former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), don accuse President Bola Tinubu administration say dey suppress dissent and dey silence critics. For interview wey he do for Arise TV on Sunday, Yusuf claim say dem detain am to intimidate am and weaken his spirit against government actions.
For February, Yusuf appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on five-count fraud charges, wey he plead not guilty to before Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu for Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Yusuf talk say him time for Kuje prison na “retreat for rest, prayers, and reflection,” insisting say the experience only make him stronger. He recount the incident wey happen for January 29, when men wey identify as EFCC operatives come invade him house without any arrest warrant. “On the 29th of January this year, around 6:30 PM, my wife come tell me say some gentlemen show up and just waka enter the house. Dem say dem come to see me, claiming say I dey expect dem,” he narrate.
“Dem say dem dey from EFCC and come to carry me. I ask dem, ‘Guys, you never even introduce una selves.’ Dem quickly bring out their badges come confirm say dem be from EFCC,” Yusuf add. The former NHIS boss say the operatives no let am change cloth, and dem stop him wife from bringing am change of clothes.
E be talk say dem pack am inside bus wey dey sandwiched between armed officer and one young operative, wey dey high-five each other “as if dem don catch notorious criminal like Kachalla Bello Turji.” According to Yusuf, he spend six days for EFCC custody before dem carry am go court, and him bail deny because of judge illness, wey make am spend 24 days for Kuje prison.
“The denial of bail na wrong. Bail na constitutional right wey every accused person suppose get, unless na capital offences or terrorism, and my case no be any of those,” he say. “This government deliberately deny me bail to shake me up. I spend six days for EFCC and 24 days for Kuje prison — all to try and silence me. But I no be person wey fit silence.”
“The whole purpose na the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu trying to silence any form of dissent.” He continue, “This na from person wey once be NADECO activist — wey fight against military rule, wey run go another country to escape.”
Yusuf emphasize say criticize government na legitimate right for any citizen for democracy. “Criticising a government for democracy na the legitimate right of every citizen. But now, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dey try to stifle dissent and turn Nigeria to one-party dictatorial state. We no go let that happen,” he conclude.
Yusuf was appointed as NHIS executive secretary in 2016 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He face suspension for 2017 by health minister, and in 2018 by the NHIS board over allegations of corruption, before dem remove am for 2019.
