Politics
I cannot be silenced – Former NHIA boss declares from detention
Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Prof. Usman Yusuf, who is facing corruption charges, has shared a detailed account of his treatment at the hands of security forces and Nigerian Correctional Service officials.
Yusuf, a Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation professor, had been an outspoken critic of President Bola Tinubu, his administration, and policies.
His troubles reportedly began after a controversial interview criticizing Nigeria’s growing ties with France, along with other public comments that allegedly disturbed the government.
He was recently arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and charged with five counts, including alleged embezzlement and self-benefit during his time as NHIA head in 2016. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On Wednesday, an FCT High Court delayed ruling on his bail request, with Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu ordering that he be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre until February 27.
Following the decision, Yusuf characterized his situation as part of a government effort to silence him.
Yusuf expressed confidence in his legal team and reiterated his belief that the charges against him were unfounded.
He also thanked his supporters both locally and internationally, stressing that he would not be intimidated by what he described as the authoritarian tactics of President Tinubu’s leadership.
He criticized the government’s response to his criticisms and the surveillance on him and his family.
Yusuf indicated that his ordeal escalated after his remarks at the Northern Youths Summit in Bauchi.
He detailed his detention, beginning with his arrest on January 29, 2025, by EFCC officials who arrived at his home without an arrest warrant.
He described a chaotic scene with his wife and daughter distressed by the encounter. He was transported to EFCC headquarters, where he was interrogated and later detained for several days.
Yusuf recounted his experience in detention, emphasizing the stark conditions and his interactions with other detainees.
Despite the harsh circumstances, he found solace in the respect from fellow inmates and reflected on the stories of those incarcerated, many of whom were awaiting trial for extended periods.
After being transferred to Kuje Prison, he was placed in the segregation unit, a facility for VIP inmates, where he observed the daily lives of prisoners.
He noted the overcrowding and the struggles faced by many detainees, particularly those who had been in prison for years without trial.
Yusuf ended his account by expressing that his time in prison had given him a new perspective on the plight of Nigeria’s incarcerated youth, and he vowed to advocate for change when he is released.
Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.
Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.
He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.
The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.
“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.
“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.
“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?
“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.
Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.
The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.
He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.
Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said Nigerians have every reason to be mad at the Senate over the ongoing debate on e-transmission of election results.
Ezekwesili made this known on Friday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ monitored by DAILY POST.
DAILY POST reports that the Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to compel the electronic transmission of election results.
Reacting to the matter, Ezekwesili said, “The fundamental issue with the review of the Electoral Act is that the Senate retained the INEC 2022 Act, Section 60 Sub 5.
“This section became infamous for the loophole it provided INEC, causing Nigerians to lose trust. Since the law established that it wasn’t mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results in real-time, there wasn’t much anyone could say.
“Citizens embraced the opportunity to reform the INEC Act, aiming to address ambiguity and discretionary opportunities for INEC. Yet, the Senate handled it with a “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. The citizens have every reason to be as outraged as they currently are.”
How Buhari shocked me 6 months into his administration – Oyegun
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