By; SUNDAY ODE, Abuja
The Federal Government said Wednesday that the reinstatement of the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme ( NHIS) Prof. Usman Yusuf, will not stop the probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC).
Prof Yusuf who was suspended by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on July 6, 2017, is allegedly being probed by the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, for an alleged N919m fraud.
The NHIS boss was also indicted for abuse of office by a committee set up by the Minister of Health.
However, in July last year, the House of Representatives ordered the Minister of Health, to recall the suspended Yusuf following its own investigation of the matter.
The lawmakers alleged that the suspension of the NHIS boss was an attempt to intimidate and punish him for testifying on issues of corruption in the sector.
In a motion that was debated and adopted by the House concluded that the minister seemed to be victimizing Yusuf by suspending him.
The lawmakers consequently demanded the recall of the NHIS boss from suspension, adding that he should be allowed to continue with his sanitisation programme in the agency.
Speaking to State House correspondents Thursday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said he was not aware the EFCC was investigating Yusuf.
He said: “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.”
When asked why he claimed not to be aware of the NHIS is under investigation , he said,“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, 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,” he stated.
