A social justice advocacy group located in the north has called for Professor Usman Yusuf, the former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, to be released unconditionally.
At a news conference on Friday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Bauchi State, Abdulrasheed Maidawa, the Chairman of Tafiyan Matasan Arewa, voiced his profound concern over Yusuf’s detention, pointing out that he is a well-known social justice activist and a voice for the underprivileged.
Maidawa suggested that instead of focusing on its detractors, the President Tinubu-led administration should focus its efforts and resources on solving the urgent security threats, hunger, health problems, and economic hardships that our country is facing.
Maidawa stated, “In the light of the above, we unequivocally condemn the arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a prominent advocate for the rights of the marginalized and a voice for the voiceless in our society. His detention is not only an affront to his personal freedoms but also a direct attack on the principles of justice, equity, and free speech that are fundamental to our democracy, and we, therefore, call for the immediate and unconditional release of Professor Usman Yusuf.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Professor Usman Yusuf. His arrest is a clear violation of his rights and an attempt to stifle the important conversations that need to take place in our society. We call on the relevant authorities to respect the rule of law and uphold the democratic values that our nation stands for,” he added.
IREPORT247NEW reports earlier that Usman Yusuf, a former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), was charged with fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was taken into custody by EFCC agents after they raided his home in Abuja.
Following the arraignment, the defendant’s attorney, O.I. Habeeb, asked the court to remand his client in the custody of the EFCC until the bail application was heard. The trial judge, however, stated that the defendant could not be in the custody of the EFCC following arraignment, so she ordered his remand to the Kuje Correctional Center.
The defendant’s bail hearing has been postponed until February 12.