Yusuf’s reinstatement: stop insulting Nigerians – Falana warns Buhari

Femi Falana, activist lawyer, has called on Federal the Government to
stop the reinstatement of the Executive Secretary of National Health
Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf.

Falana said this in reaction to the reinstatement of suspended
Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),
Usman Yusuf by President Buhari.

The Senior lawyer warned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led
administration to stop insulting the intelligence of Nigerians, adding
that the reinstatement of Prof Yusuf cannot be justified in law.

In a statement yesterday in Lagos, Falana said: "In line with the
provisions of the Public Service Rules, the former Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF) and former Director-General of the
National Intelligence Agency, Messers Babachir Lawal and Ayo Oke, were
suspended pending the conclusion of investigations into allegations of
corrupt practices and money laundering levelled against them.

"But the established principle has just been set aside by President
Muhammadu Buhari in this case.

"In a bid to play on the intelligence of Nigerians, the Federal
Government has said the allegation of the criminal diversion of the
over N900 million involving the Executive Secretary has not been swept
under the carpet and that his purported reinstatement will not stop
the investigation being conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).

"The Federal Government should be advised to stop insulting the
intelligence of Nigerians. Since Section 42 of the Constitution bans
the Federal Government from according preferential treatment to any
citizen, the reinstatement of Prof Yusuf cannot be justified in law.
It should be withdrawn by President Buhari without delay."