Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a raid on his Abuja residence.

The arrest occurred around 4:46 PM on Wednesday in the presence of his wife and children, as armed EFCC operatives took the professor of haematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation into custody.

While the exact reasons for his detention remain undisclosed, sources close to the investigation suggest that it may be linked to his tenure at NHIS.

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Although the EFCC has yet to publicly clarify the nature of the allegations, a highly-placed source revealed that Prof. Yusuf is being held to assist in an ongoing investigation.

“The reason for his arrest can’t be made public now because investigations are still ongoing. What I know is that he’s in custody and he will help the detectives in their investigations,” the source said.

Prof. Yusuf’s tenure at NHIS ended in 2019, when he was dismissed by former President Muhammadu Buhari following a recommendation from a fact-finding panel.

The panel had investigated his handling of N919 million in NHIS funds, which was allegedly mismanaged.

As of the time of writing, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, had not responded to requests for comment on the arrest.

His office had promised to provide further information, but no updates were available at the time of publication.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the ruling on the bail application of former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, to Thursday, January 30 2025.

Sowore, who is facing 17 counts of cybercrime charges filed by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him in court.

The charges stem from a tweet posted on his verified X handle, ‘Omoyele Sowore’, in which he referred to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as an “illegal IGP.”

The police argue that the statement is false and capable of inciting public disorder.

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Justice Musa Liman, who presided over the hearing, initially scheduled the bail ruling for 3 p.m. today but later stood down the matter before adjourning.

During the hearing, Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, urged the court to grant his client bail on the most lenient terms possible.

“We have a motion on notice filed today, January 29, 2025,” Abubakar told the court. “I ask your lordship to release the applicant on bail in the most liberal terms pending the trial. The applicant has also filed a 16-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Sunday Agabi, and we rely on the arguments within. We urge your lordship to grant our application.”

Abubakar further argued that the court has discretionary powers to grant bail, regardless of the prosecution’s objections.

However, the prosecution counsel, Udey Jonathan, opposed the application, urging the court to deny bail or impose stringent conditions if granted.

“My lord, a counter-affidavit deposed to by one Friday Ameh, a police intelligence officer, has been filed against the bail application,” Jonathan said.

He emphasized that bail should not be granted lightly, arguing that if the court decides to release Sowore, he should be required to surrender his international passport to ensure his presence at trial.

“Bail cannot be handed out like candy; it should not be granted in vacuo,” Jonathan insisted.

After considering the arguments from both sides, Justice Liman adjourned the ruling to Thursday at 1 p.m. Until then, Sowore will remain in police custody.

Amid growing legal tension, former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to seventeen counts of cybercrime brought against him by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Biztellers reports that Sowore was arrested on Monday and detained at the Intelligence Response Team facility in Abuja after he rejected the administrative bail conditions offered by the police.

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Sowore’s arrest followed an invitation to the Force Intelligence Headquarters over allegations including resisting public officers, obstructing their duties, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking, and actions allegedly aimed at preventing arrests.

He was later arraigned before Justice Musa Liman, where the charges were read to him.

The charges, filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, stem from statements Sowore made on his verified X handle (formerly Twitter), in which he referred to Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP.”

According to the police, Sowore’s posts were intended to incite public unrest and harm the reputation of both the IGP and the Nigeria Police Force.

Count One of the charge reads: “That you, Omoyele Sowore, on the 13th day of December 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did intentionally and knowingly send messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, where you called him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.’

“This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended (2024), and punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same Act.”

Count Two states: “That you, Omoyele Sowore, intentionally and knowingly caused the transmission of messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, calling him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.’

“This statement, which you knew to be false, tagged the verified Nigeria Police Force X handle, @policeNG. The publication contained threats intended to incite Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and harm the property or reputation of the Inspector General of Police or the Nigeria Police Force.

“By so doing, you committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended (2024).”

Count Three reads: “That you, Omoyele Sowore, on December 20, 2024, intentionally and knowingly sent messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, stating: ‘The illegal IG of Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun, will make the next #ENDSARS inevitable! He is working tirelessly towards it. Just a matter of time. #EgbetekunMustGo #Revolution.’

“This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence.”

After the charges were read, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, requested bail for his client.

Justice Liman adjourned the matter and is expected to rule on the bail application at 3 p.m.