The family of Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has appealed to the United States government to intervene in his detention.
Yusuf’s wife, Iftikar Abdallah Yusuf, and their three sons, Abdullah, Adnan, and Luqman, have written separate letters to the American Embassy and US Senator Richard J. Durbin, respectively, seeking diplomatic intervention for his swift release.
According to the letters, Yusuf is being unlawfully detained and politically persecuted.
He is currently facing a five-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), including allegations of embezzlement and abuse of office during his tenure at NHIA from 2016 to 2019.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Yusuf’s family claims that he was forcefully taken from their home by heavily armed EFCC operatives without an arrest warrant or prior summons.
They accuse the Tinubu administration of violating his constitutional rights, denying him access to legal counsel, and withholding medical care.
“My husband’s abduction and detention by the EFCC, denial of bail, and incarceration in Kuje Prison are nothing but political persecution because he has been a very vocal critic of President Tinubu’s economic policies that have been inflicting unbearable hardships on Nigerians”, she wrote.
The Children echoed these concerns, insisting their father is being targeted for his outspoken views.
The family’s appeal for US diplomatic intervention adds an international dimension to the high-profile case, highlighting concerns over Yusuf’s health and fair trial rights.