By Abu Ismail
Former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has expressed strong concerns over the continued detention of Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), after visiting him at Kuje Correctional Facility in Abuja.
Dalung, who was accompanied by activist Mahdi Shehu during the visit on February 4, 2025, confirmed that Yusuf remains in good health and high spirits despite his incarceration. According to him, the professor is more concerned about the state of the nation than his own predicament, describing his resilience as an inspiration to the ongoing struggle for good governance.
Yusuf was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kuje on charges of corruption. The EFCC alleges that during his tenure between 2016 and 2017, Yusuf awarded contracts without due process and conferred undue advantages upon himself. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for February 12, 2025.
In a statement titled No Retreat, No Surrender, Freedom Comes by Struggle, Dalung described what he sees as increasing suppression of dissenting voices, warning that no amount of intimidation or state harassment would silence the call for justice. He also raised concerns over alleged threats against another activist, Naja’atu Mohammed, by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Calling for solidarity, Dalung urged supporters to attend Yusuf’s court hearings and remain vigilant. He also hinted at possible street protests if justice is not served, declaring, “An injury to one is an injury to all; therefore, we are all prisoners of conscience only waiting to be picked.”
The case has sparked debates on the balance between Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and the protection of civil liberties. Observers are closely monitoring developments, with many awaiting the outcome of Yusuf’s bail hearing and the broader implications of the case for governance and political activism in the country.
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