Police take over NHIS building over alleged protest plot by suspended secretary

Officers of the Nigerian police force and the Civil defence corps have besieged the building of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja following intelligence reports of a protest being planned by the Suspended Executive secretary of the NHIS, Yusuf Usman.

PoliticsNGR learnt that Usman allegedly planned to resume duties forcefully on Monday using a rented crowd to protest his removal. Policemen and civil defence officers wielding guns were positioned at strategic entry points to the building. All staff were subjected to full body/security search.

The embattled Usman allegedly threatened to storm the office premises with loyalists with an aim to unseat the acting executive secretary who resumed today. Both Senior and junior staff were ready for a serious showdown had Usman and his crowd shown up as expected.

Usman’s troubles started last week after he defied a direct suspension order slammed on him by the Minister of health, Prof. Isaac Adewole over his reported involvement in a N960 million fraud. Usman defended his actions by saying that only the president could remove him as stated in the NHIS act.