WorldStage– James Balami, the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, in the trial of the former Nigeria’s National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) boss, Professor Usman Yusuf told the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuchiako, Kuje, Abuja, presided over by Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu that the contract awarded to Lubekh Nigeria Ltd by NHIA for the supply of vehicles under the leadership of the defendant was not subjected to procurement processes.
The witness, Director of Procurement, NHIA disclosed that the contract was awarded to the company, whose alter ego is Kabiru Yusuf Yar’adua, a brother to the defendant, Professor Yusuf.
Led in his examination-in-chief by prosecution counsel, Francis Usani, the witness disclosed that Lubekh Nigeria Ltd, Zaramat Global Company Ltd and GK Kanki Foundation were the three companies which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, requested the NHIA in a letter to furnish it with some information.
“Kabiru Yusuf Yar’adua is a business man and owner of Lubekh company and a brother to the defendant, Professor Yusuf, who was the then chief executive,” he said.
He stated that Lubekh Nigeria Ltd submitted documents for the award of contracts, which he disclosed “were evaluated and found to be responsive both technically and financially, and the Tenders Board considered the report presented to it and approved the award of the contract to it for the supply of vehicle.”
When asked by the prosecution counsel if he could recall the value of the contract, he said “I can’t recall, but there is one that is about N9 million,” adding that the process of the award took place between the NHIA Human Resources and the defendant, who was the Chief Executive Officer with the Procurement Department, sidelined.
“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 procurement process,” he said.
Testifying further, the witnessed revealed that one Hassan Khalifa Yusuf, the defendant’s nephew and son of his brother, Kabiru Yusuf Yar’adua, (the contract awardee), who was a seconded staffer to the Authority, evaluated the contract, awarded to Lubekh Nig Limited.
“Hassan Khalifa Yusuf is the son of the owner of Lubekh Nig Ltd,” he said.
Further in his testimony, the witness disclosed that there were a series of petitions against Professor Yusuf sent to the ICPC, EFCC, Federal Ministry of Health as well as the Presidency, all bordering on his alleged maladministration of the Authority and procurement breaches.
“There were a series of petitions against Professor Yusuf, the defendant and some of the petitions were addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, ICPC, Federal Ministry of Health, as well as to the Presidency, bordering on maladministration and procurement breaches. Two panels were set up: one ministerial investigative panel was set up to consider the allegations to which I was equally invited. There was another panel, which was a presidential panel to consider these allegations,” he said.
The defence counsel, O. I Habeeb, SAN, objected to oral evidence of the proceedings in the panels, arguing that the evidence concerning the petitions and panels are irrelevant. The judge, however, counteracted him.
“I don’t think he has exceeded his boundaries,” the judge said.
In his cross-examination, the witness informed the court that Exhibit B, being N80 million, comprising N30 million in 2015 and N50 million in 2016 was budgeted for Prado SUV. Explaining Exhibit B, the witness stated that it was a schedule of contracts, considered and approved by the Tenders Board, not an appropriation and not an approved budget. He informed the court that based on Exhibit B, the Tenders Board had no authority to approve the contract award.
“Yes my lord, based on Exhibit B, they have no authority to approve the award,” he said.
Justice Nwecheonwu adjourned till October 14 and 15, 2026 for the continuation of cross-examination and hearing on the matter.
