ABUJA, NIGERIA - A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Olufemi Thomas, has surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for interrogation on the alleged seizure of $2.1million cash.
The EFCC had threatened to declare him wanted after efforts to locate him both in Lagos and Abuja proved abortive.
Thomas had denied ownership of the said cash and claimed yesterday that he was never on the run as reported by the media.
The EFCC is however continuing with its investigation of the matter and may invite a former Minister of Health for questioning on how NHIS paid ₦990million for a plot of land estimated at ₦350million, while Thomas was in office.
Thomas reportedly arrived Abuja on Thursday night and reported at the EFCC headquarters, Abuja early Friday.
He was said to have been grilled for several hours by the agency after which his media aide, Mr. Sola Adeyemi, issued a statement describing him as "a law-abiding person, a true professional and a man of his words."
He said:
Today (Friday), we were at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja in reaction to media reports that Dr. Thomas was wanted by the anti-graft agency in connection with a $2.1million cash seizure, where my boss made an official statement on the allegation of money laundering.
This shows that he was never on the run, and he would never do anything against the law of the land. He has gone to answer the EFCC call. So we believe my boss’ visit will put to rest all these allegations and help the anti-graft agency in their further investigation of the matter. Therefore, until the investigation is concluded, we would not speak on this matter.
Adeyemi appealed to the media to "maintain a high level of professionalism in the discharge of your duties in order that the anti-graft agency can focus on a thorough investigation on the various allegations."
According to The Nation, a reliable source in the commission said the former Executive Secretary of NHIS voluntarily came to the EFCC office for interrogation on the seized cash.
"We have interacted with him and we asked him to make statement accordingly on what he knew about the cash," the source said.
"We also grilled him on the relationship between him and the Bureau de Change operator, Ibiteye John Bamidele, who was arrested with the money by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
"We are proceeding with the next stage to investigate issues highlighted from the submissions of the two people. There are other clues we are also considering too.
"The ex-NHIS is on administrative bail and he has given assurance that he would report to the EFCC anytime he is needed."
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