NHIS boss reinstatement: Senior lawyers accuse Buhari of promoting corruption, impunity

macfranc007 February 11, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Nurudeen Lawal

- Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, Yusuf Ali and Ifedayo Adedipe, have reacted to the reinstatement of the NHIS boss by President Buhari

- The senior lawyers said the reinstatement degrades the anti-corruption crusade of the President Buhari-led administration

- They said the president’s decision undermines the authority of the health minister

Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, Yusuf Ali and Ifedayo Adedipe, have criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for reinstating the hitherto suspended executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf.

Recall that the president recalled Yusuf, although a panel, set up by the minister of health, Professor Isaac Adewole, suspended the NHIS boss on July 6, 2017.

Yusuf, who is being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), was accused of perpetrating fraud to the tune of N919m.

In an interview with Punch, Ali said Nigerians deserved an explanation from the federal government for reinstating the NHIS boss.

According to him, the president’s recall of the indicted NHIS official belittles the health minister’s authority.

He stated: “The reason for which he was suspended is well known to everybody. It was well publicised. It was said that there was some money, almost $1bn, for which he couldn’t account for and for which the EFCC was invited. Curiously, nobody has heard anything from the EFCC and the man was recalled.

“So, I think the government owes us an explanation why the man, who was suspended by the minister, was recalled by the Presidency. Why was it not the minister that recalled him? The problem about such a matter is that it would have been better if the minister recalled him because they are demystifying the offices of the minister.”

Ali stated that the reinstatement did not portend well for the anti-corruption crusade of the President Buhari-led administration.

He said: “For all intents and purposes, it means that the anti-corruption body can do whatever it wants to do; the government is least concerned.”

In a similar reaction, Adedipe condemned Buhari’s war against corruption and the government’s motives, saying that the reinstatement is an insult on the office of the minister.

Adedipe said: “It is a total disgrace and an embarrassment. If I were the minister of health, I would resign and give them back their useless position. The President has undermined his so-called war on corruption for whatever reason, and it does him no credit that he is doing this.

“A man under his watch is accused of corruption and is being probed, and you reinstated him? He has undermined that minister. And this professor (Yusuf) was so boastful, saying only the President could query him. That he (Buhari) would do this kind of thing no longer shocks me.”

Another senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, also described the reinstatement of Yusuf as evidence of impunity, corruption and executive lawlessness under President Buhari administration.

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He claimed that the reinstatement of the NHIS boss showed that the administration was not only covering up corruption within the government but also promoting and protecting it.

He said: “It amounts to clear evidence of the reign of impunity, corruption and executive lawlessness.

“The minister of health, Prof. Adewole, has supervisory and disciplinary jurisdiction over the NHIS boss, Prof Yusuf.

“He set up a panel to probe his transgressions. He was found culpable. Adewole suspended Yusuf.

“The latter laughed him to scorn, pooh-poohed and mocked him, reminding Adewole he was a sacred cow whom he cannot touch. It has come to pass.

“The President rode over Adewole’s head and recalled the suspended executive secretary.

“He laughed more. That is the very antithesis to fighting the so-called corruption.”

NAIJ.com previously reported that the health minister of health, Professor Isaac was reportedly accused of setting up a committee that was neither independent nor free from biases, to investigate the NHIS boss.

A presidency source who pleaded for anonymity told the Sun Newspaper that the committee set up to probe Yusuf was neither independent nor free from biases.

According to the source, some of the allegations brought against Yusuf by the United Youth Alliance Against Corruption (UYAC) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants could not be substantiated, adding that no evidence was brought forward in the 20 of the 23 allegations.

Buhari is the general overseer of corruption - on NAIJ.com TV: