Usman Yusuf, the former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is attempting to silence critics and stifle dissent.
In an interview with Arise TV on Sunday, Yusuf asserted that his recent detention was a calculated effort to intimidate him and deter opposition to government policies.
In February, Yusuf faced five charges of alleged fraud brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He pleaded not guilty before Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court.
Reflecting on his experience in Kuje prison, Yusuf described it as a time for “rest, prayers, and reflection,” emphasizing that it only reinforced his determination.
Reflecting on the events of January 29, Yusuf recounted how men claiming to be EFCC operatives entered his home without an arrest warrant.
“On January 29th, around 6:30 PM, my wife came to my room and informed me that some gentlemen had knocked and entered the house. They walked in through the door and said they wanted to see me, insisting that I was expecting them,” he explained.
“They claimed to be from the EFCC and said they were there to take me. I responded, ‘You haven’t even introduced yourselves.’ They quickly showed me their badges to confirm their affiliation with the EFCC.”
Yusuf noted that the operatives did not allow him to change his clothes and prevented his wife from bringing him any alternative attire.
He described being squeezed between an armed officer and a young operative in a bus, who exchanged high-fives as if they had apprehended a notorious criminal like Kachalla Bello Turji.
“This government intentionally denied me bail to intimidate me. I spent six days at the EFCC and 24 days in Kuje prison—all in an effort to silence me. But I refuse to be silenced.”
“The aim was for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government to suppress any dissent.”
“This is coming from a president who was once a NADECO activist—someone who fought against military rule, fled across the border, and sought safety.”
Yusuf stressed that criticizing the government is a fundamental right in a democracy.
“Criticism of the government is a legitimate right of every citizen in a democracy. However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is attempting to stifle dissent and transform Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship. We will not allow that to happen.”
Yusuf was appointed as the executive secretary of the NHIS in 2016 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He was suspended in 2017 by the health minister and later by the NHIS board in 2018 over allegations of corruption.
