RismadarVoice Reporters
May 14, 2026
The trial of former National Health Insurance Authority boss, Professor Usman Yusuf, continued on Thursday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kuje, Abuja, with a prosecution witness alleging that contracts awarded during the defendant’s tenure bypassed established procurement procedures.
The second prosecution witness, James Balami, who is the Director of Procurement at the NHIA, told Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu that a contract awarded to Lubekh Nigeria Limited for the supply of vehicles did not pass through the agency’s procurement department.
Balami, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel Francis Usani, disclosed that the company was owned by Kabiru Yusuf Yar’adua, whom he identified as a brother of the former NHIA chief.
According to the witness, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had requested information from the authority regarding three companies Lubekh Nigeria Limited, Zaramat Global Company Limited and GK Kanki Foundation during the course of investigations.
He explained that although Lubekh Nigeria Limited submitted documents for the contract, the procurement department was sidelined in the approval process.
“It emanated from the Human Resources to the Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer, Professor Yusuf, as at that time. So, it did not go through procurement and by implication, it did not go through the procurement process,” Balami told the court.
The witness further alleged that Hassan Khalifa Yusuf, identified as the son of Kabiru Yusuf Yar’adua and nephew of the defendant, participated in evaluating the contract awarded to Lubekh Nigeria Limited while serving as a seconded staff member at the authority.
Balami also informed the court that several petitions had been submitted against Professor Yusuf to agencies including the EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Presidency over alleged maladministration and procurement breaches.
According to him, the allegations led to the setting up of ministerial and presidential investigative panels.
Defence counsel, O.I. Habeeb (SAN), objected to portions of the testimony relating to the petitions and investigative panels, arguing that they were irrelevant to the case. However, Justice Nwecheonwu overruled the objection and allowed the witness to continue his testimony.
During cross-examination, the witness referred to an exhibit indicating N80 million budgeted for Prado Sports Utility Vehicles in 2015 and 2016, clarifying that the document represented a schedule of contracts considered by the Tenders Board and not an approved budget or appropriation.
He maintained that the Tenders Board lacked the authority to approve the contract award in question.
The case was adjourned for continuation of the trial.
