The Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) has described as shocking, scandalous and a mockery of justice Tuesday’s
recall by President Muhammadu Buhari of the suspended Executive Secretary of
the National Health Insurance Scheme (NIHS), Prof. Usman Yusuf.
The party said it was shocking
coming at a time he was still being quizzed by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission for alleged N919 million fraud.
The Party also mocked the All
Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government for the cover up of
the cabinet minister reported to have bought a property worth N280 million in
Abuja from alleged corrupt enrichment.
PDP National Publicity Secretary,
Kola Ologbondiyan, in statement on Wednesday said the Presidency stinks of
corruption and had lost all claim of fighting graft, as long as it continued to
protect indicted officials of the APC administration.
The party said it was disgusting
that the same Presidency brandishing a medal of ‘African Union Anti-Corruption
Champion’ would short-circuit the processes, arm-twist anti-graft agencies and
pull out an indicted government official, while he was still guest at the EFCC
where he was being grilled for his alleged maleficence.
The statement said: “This is a
government official probed and thoroughly indicted for abuse of office and
fraud to the tune of N919 million by a committee set up by the Minister of
Health, comprising of senior officials of the Health ministry, Department of
State Services, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related
offences Commission (ICPC) and which report was submitted to the President last
September.
“The report detailed Yusuf as a
public servant who ‘portrayed a holier than thou attitude but at the
background, milked the agency dry’ by ganging up with other fraudulent elements
to fleece the NHIS to the tune of over N919 million through fraudulent
procurements, while name-dropping on the President.
“Instead of allowing for the conclusion
of investigation and eventual prosecution by EFCC, the Presidency halted the
process and rewarded the indicted official with a recall from suspension, even
without any recourse to the supervising minister simply because Prof. Yusuf is
not only of the APC but also known to be very close to the President.
“The only way the Presidency can
redeem itself from this particular scandal is to immediately return Prof. Yusuf
to the EFCC and allow the law to take it course if it is actually fighting
corruption in Nigeria.
“In the same vein, we challenge
the Presidency to immediately name the minister indicted for corrupt enrichment
and bring him out for investigation and prosecution in line with the law, the
party further said.
“The PDP therefore invited Nigerians
and the international community to continue to note the insincerity and
deception of the APC government especially as the nation approaches the 2019
general elections.”
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