ALLEGED $2.1M FRAUD: Court dismisses ex-NHIS chief’s no-case submission

Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Friday dismissed the no-case submission filed by a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the ex-NHIS alongside one Kabiru Sidi, a Bureau De Change operator, for alleged $2.2million fraud.

In his ruling on the application, Justice Faji, said the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Thomas and asked him to enter his defence.

READ ALSO: Buhari’s presumed attacker clears the air, says my mission was to meet the President

He said: “The testimonies of the first prosecution witness suggests that the first defendant gave the sum of $2.198m to him to change into naira through his wife, as the evidence showed that the transactions in counts four and five of the charge sheet did not pass through a financial institution. More so, the amount involved is beyond N5million obtainable by law and I, therefore, hold that the defendant has a case to answer.”

The judge adjourned the case till March 30 for the defendant to open his defence.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now