The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court sitting in Kuje has fixed February 27 to rule on the bail application filed by former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Professor Usman Yusuf, who is facing corruption allegations.

Trial judge Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu held that the defendant be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Kuje pending the ruling on his bail application.

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Yusuf on five-count charges bordering on alleged embezzlement and conferment of undue advantage to himself, as the boss of the NHIS in 2016, by approving the purchase of a vehicle at the cost of N49,197,750, against the budgeted sum of N30,000,000.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that Yusuf retained a private interest in a corporate entity without due process and awarded a contract in the sum of N10.1 million in favour of the said company, for the purported training of 90 persons when the actual number of trainees was 45.

The EFCC further accused Yusuf of knowingly acquiring a private interest in an entity with his nephew, Khalifa Hassan Yusuf, by awarding him a contract for media and special public relations consultancy in the sum of N17,500,000.00.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Arguing against the bail, the prosecution counsel, Francis Usani informed the court that Yusuf did not comply with the terms of an administrative bail granted to him by the EFCC to report bi-weekly to its office.

He further submitted that the defendant had boasted about his political connections and would abscond from the trial if granted bail.

“It took the respondent (EFCC)’s officers’ discreet surveillance and high-powered intelligence to apprehend the defendant to bring him to court,” he said.

The defence counsel, O.I. Habeeb, SAN, pleaded for the release of the defendant as the alleged offences brought against him are ordinarily bailable.