Wednesday, February 12, 2025
-2.1 C
Hamburg

Northern Elders Forum, Sheikh Gumi Condemn Arrest of Former NHIS Director

ABUJA—The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi have condemned the arrest of former National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Director Yusuf Usman by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling it politically motivated.

In a statement issued by NEF spokesman Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the group claimed the arrest was an attempt to silence voices critical of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“The Northern Elders Forum received the news of the arbitrary arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, around 4:30 p.m. at his residence in Abuja by operatives of the EFCC. Professor Usman Yusuf is a distinguished personality with high-level credibility and unquestionable integrity,” the statement read.

NEF called for Usman’s immediate release, arguing that his detention was designed to suppress dissent and curtail democratic freedoms.

“It is a deliberate plan to silence and intimidate the political opposition and to reverse many of the democratic rights won by Nigerians over the years in the fight against dictatorship and all forms of human oppression,” the forum added.

Sheikh Gumi also criticized the arrest, warning Tinubu against allowing political sycophants to erode his goodwill.

“An arraignment of individuals on premises with an obvious smack of political vendetta is ill-advised at a time of national political uncertainty, economic crunch, and re-adjustments,” Gumi said.

The scholar vouched for Usman’s integrity, noting their long-standing association.

“I have known this gentleman for 49 years now, and all I can say about him is that he has been honest and an ardent advocate against injustice of whatever source or type since our university days in the ’70s,” he said. “President Tinubu should not allow sycophants in his administration to spoil his goodwill.”

Hot this week

FG Transforms Nok University into Federal University of Applied Sciences

Agency Report - President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal...

Mixed Reactions Trail Third-Party Insurance Policy in Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger

Agency Report - Some residents of Kogi, Nasarawa and Minna...

El-Rufai Says Betrayers’ Conscience ‘Won’t Let Them Sleep Well’

ABUJA — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has...

Wike Directs Security Agencies to Monitor Almajiri Influx, Suspicious Movements in FCT

Agency Report - Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,...

Dangote Refinery Cuts Diesel Price to N1,020 Per Litre

LAGOS — Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has further...

Latest

FG Transforms Nok University into Federal University of Applied Sciences

Agency Report - President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal...

Mixed Reactions Trail Third-Party Insurance Policy in Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger

Agency Report - Some residents of Kogi, Nasarawa and Minna...

El-Rufai Says Betrayers’ Conscience ‘Won’t Let Them Sleep Well’

ABUJA — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has...

Dangote Refinery Cuts Diesel Price to N1,020 Per Litre

LAGOS — Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has further...

“Prove Your Innocence in Court,” INEC Tells Suspended Adamawa REC Ari

Agency Report - Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has advised...

NCS Bows To Pressure, Suspends Implementation of 4% FOB

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has suspended implementation of...

El-Rufai Dismisses Arrest Rumors, Vows to Return to Nigeria for IBB Book Launch

ABUJA — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Section

spot_imgspot_img

MORE FROM CHATNEWSTV

ANSEC Hails Operation Udo Ga-Achi, Reaffirms Traditional Worship Not Targeted

AWKA—The Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) has praised the state’s new security initiative, Operation Udo Ga-Achi, for its effectiveness and urged it to sustain...

NLC Chief Slams Governors for ‘Abandoning’ States for Abuja

LOKOJA, Nigeria — The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has accused state governors of neglecting their duties by residing permanently...

Nasarawa Residents Blames Parents For High Rate of Teenage Pregnancy

Agency Report - Some residents of New Nyanya in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, have attributed the high rate of teenage pregnancy to...

FG Sets February 17 Deadline for Civil Servants’ IPPIS Verification

Federal government has set February 17, 2025, as deadline for civil servants to validate their identity on the integrated payroll and personnel information system...

Creating More States Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Problems — CSO

Agency Report - A civil society organisation, CSO, Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, CCLCA, has said that creation of additional states is not...

Tinubu Swears In RMAFC, FCC Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries

Agency Report - President Bola Tinubu on Monday presided over the swearing-in of newly appointed members of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC,...

“Back-to-Farm” Program: Wike’s ally, Engr Chukwuemeka Woke Empowers Rivers People

In a bid to boost food security and empower small-scale farmers, the Director General National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Engr Chukwuemeka...

10 dead as gunmen attack Ebonyi community

Agency Report - The Police in Ebonyi have confirmed 10 persons dead in an attack launched by suspected gunmen at Amagu village in Ishielu Local...

Nigeria Mourns Former German President Horst Köhler

Agency Report - The Federal Government, on Sunday, commiserated with the government and people of Germany over the passing of former President Horst Köhler. The News...