The Federal Government has said that the reinstatement of Professor Usman Yusuf as the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) does not stop any ongoing investigation into the allegations of corruption levelled against him.
Speaking to state House correspondents shortly after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed while reacting to the controversy that trialed the reinstatement of the NHIS boss defended the President’s action.
Professor Yusuf was suspended alongside eight other top officials of the agency in June 2017 by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, over the allegations of gross misconduct.
Following his suspension, the Minister had constituted a panel which reportedly found the NHIS boss culpable of nepotism and theft of public funds. President Muhammadu Buhari, however, reinstated Professor Yusuf on Tuesday, February 6, coming more than seven months after his suspension.
Defending the president's action, Mohammed said the government was not aware that the NHIS boss was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Information Minister noted that despite that, Yusuf’s reinstatement does not stop the anti-graft agency from proceeding with their investigation.
“I am not aware that the EFCC is investigating the recently reinstated Executive Secretary of NHIS but if that is the case, I don’t think his reinstatement is a bar to any investigation,” he said.
The minister added, “I didn’t say I’m not aware of his investigation, I said EFCC.
“I was precise. I said I am not aware that the EFCC is investigating him and that if it is true, that the fact that he has been reinstated does not mean a stop to it. That is what I said.
“I am not saying I’m not aware that he was suspended or any investigation is going on. The fact that he has been reinstated does not mean that the EFCC will not continue with its investigation, that is what I said.”
Yusuf’s reinstatement was contained in a letter with reference number, ‘SH/COS/10/6/A/29’, signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.
In the letter, the President informed the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, of Yusuf’s recall, adding that he (Yusuf) had been “admonished to work harmoniously with the minister.”
The letter made no mention of the probe Yusuf was facing at the EFCC.