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Former NHIS Boss Yusuf: ‘I Was Treated Like a Criminal’ During Arrest, Detention
Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Usman Yusuf, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of targeting dissenters and attempting to suppress opposing voices.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Sunday, Yusuf claimed that his arrest and detention were designed to intimidate him and discourage public criticism of the government.
Yusuf, who was arraigned in February by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a five-count fraud charge, pleaded not guilty before Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Reflecting on his experience, Yusuf described his detention at Kuje prison as a period of “retreat for rest, prayers, and reflection”, asserting that the ordeal only strengthened his resolve.
Recalling the events of January 29, Yusuf narrated how men identifying as EFCC operatives entered his home without an arrest warrant.
“At about 6:30 pm, my wife informed me that some men had entered our home uninvited, claiming I was expecting them,” Yusuf said. “They later produced badges showing they were from the EFCC and said they had come to take me.”
He revealed that he was denied the opportunity to change clothes and that the operatives prevented his wife from providing a change of clothing. During transportation, he was placed between an armed officer and another operative who, according to him, celebrated the arrest “as if they had apprehended a notorious criminal like Kachalla Bello Turji.”
Yusuf recounted spending six days in EFCC custody before being denied bail — an action he described as unconstitutional — and subsequently enduring 24 days in Kuje prison.
“The denial of bail was illegal. Bail is a constitutional right, except in capital offenses or terrorism cases, and my case was neither,” he said.
He alleged that the government deliberately sought to destabilize him through prolonged detention.
“This administration under President Bola Tinubu is trying to suppress dissent, despite Tinubu’s own history as a pro-democracy activist during the military era,” Yusuf stated.
He warned against turning Nigeria into a one-party dictatorial state, emphasizing that criticism remains a democratic right that must not be stifled.
Yusuf was appointed NHIS Executive Secretary by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 but was suspended by the Minister of Health in 2017 and dismissed by the NHIS board in 2018 following corruption allegations. His appointment was formally terminated in 2019.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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