Ex-NHIS boss re-arraigned over alleged $2.1m fraud

Over allegations of fraud,  a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Dr Martins Oluwafemi Thomas, alongside one Kabiru Sidi, a Bureau De Change operator, were on Friday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), over an allegation of fraud of $2,198,900.00.

The duo were re-arraigned before Justice Ayotunde Faji of a Federal High Court sitting In Lagos on an amended seven-count charge bordering on the alleged crime.

The Commission accused Thomas of conspiring with his wife, Funmi, to make a cash payment of $2,198,900.00 to one Ibitoye Bamidele at their residence on 20, Lagos University Teaching Hospital Road, Idi-Araba, Lagos.

Sidi was accused of telling lies to an investigator with the anti-graft agency, Afeez Mustapha, that he was the owner of the money that the first defendant and his wife transacted with.

One of the counts read: “That you, Dr Martins Oluwafemi Thomas (a.k.a. Dr. Ike), a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, and Mrs. Femi Thomas (still at large) on or about the 3rd of July 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court,  procured Bamidele Ibitoye to remove from the Lagos jurisdiction the sum of $2,198, 900.00 being proceeds of Dr Martins Oluwafemi’s unlawful enrichment as a former public officer and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 and punishable under Section 15(2) (c) and (3) of the Money laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended by Act. No.1 of 2012).”

Another count reads: “That you, Kabiru Sidi, on or about the 15th day of July, 2015, at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Lagos office within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, made a false statement to Afeez Mustapha, an investigating officer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 39 2(b)and punishable under Section 39 (2)(c)of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004.”

But the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Justice Faji thereafter adjourned the matter until March 19, 20, and 21, 2019 for the continuation of the trial, after the prayer of their (defendants) lawyers that they should continue with the previous bail granted them by the former trial judge, Justice Saliu Saidu of the same court.

The judge also ordered the prosecution to inform the Nigerian Immigration Service about the pendency of the case which warranted the defendant’s international passport to be deposited in court.