I Didn’t Sue Presidency Over ‘Suspension’ – NHIS Chief

The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has denied claimed that he dragged President Muhammadu Buhari or Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha over his “suspension”.

He added that he was loyal to the President and will from Monday proceed on leave of absence.

According to him, he only went to court to seek interpretation of the NHIS Governing Council’s powers to suspend him two days before he got the letter asking him to proceed on leave of absence.

He revealed that he will support the proceeding of the Independent Fact-Finding Panel set up by the Presidency by withdrawing the suit from the court.

Mr Uche Val Obi (SAN), Yusuf’s Lawyer discredited the news that his client had sued the president of his mandatory leave was fake.

Obi said that his client approached the court to known if the governing Council of the agency had the power to suspend him.

Obi said the suit was served on the defendants on October 30.

The SAN said Yusuf received the letter from the office of the SGF on October 31 at 4.30 pm from the Minister of Health directing him to proceed on administrative leave on the President’s approval.

“Having received the Presidential directives as conveyed in the SGF’s letter aforesaid, our client hereby confirms that he welcomes the Presidential intervention and remains obligated to fully and strictly comply with the directives.

“He will accordingly be proceeding on administrative leave with effect from Monday, 5th November 2018 so as to give room to the Independent Fact-Finding Panel set up by the Federal Government to carry out its important task of investigating the allegations of infractions leveled against him by the Governing Council of the Scheme.

“Similarly, our client wishes to pledge his continued loyalty to Mr. President and to fully cooperate with the incoming Overseeing Director, Mr. Ben Omogo, with whom him he has already met, and the Independent Fact-Finding Panel set up by the Presidency to deal with the matter.

“In view of this development, to ensure that there is no interference with the work and finding of the Panel and as instructed by our client, we shall be taking prompt steps to suspend the pending legal proceedings aforesaid,” Obi said in a statement yesterday.” Obi said.