Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is using state institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to suppress dissenting voices.
In a recent interview with Arise Television, Yusuf claimed his arrest and detention by the EFCC were politically motivated efforts to intimidate him because of his criticism of the government.
“They refused me bail intentionally to break my spirit. But they failed — I cannot be silenced,” he stated.
The EFCC arraigned Yusuf in February at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on a five-count charge of alleged financial misconduct, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Describing his arrest on January 29, Yusuf said EFCC agents entered his residence without an arrest warrant, claiming he had prior knowledge of their visit. He recounted being denied the opportunity to change his clothes and likened his treatment to that of a “dangerous criminal.”
Yusuf spent six days in EFCC custody before his arraignment and faced extended detention after being denied bail — a move he argues violated his constitutional rights, as his case did not involve capital or terrorism charges.
He spent an additional 24 days at Kuje Correctional Facility, which he described as a time for “rest, prayer, and inner strength,” insisting that the experience only fortified his resolve.
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Professor Yusuf further accused President Tinubu’s government of attempting to dismantle Nigeria’s democratic principles by targeting critics and fostering an emerging authoritarian state.
“It is disappointing that a leader who once fought against military rule is now clamping down on free expression,” he said.
Yusuf, who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, faced two suspensions over allegations of corruption before being formally dismissed in 2019.
