Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria(CATBAN) a non-governmental organization(NGO) has petitioned the Directorate of State Services(DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over several billons of Naira perpetrated by the immediate past Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) Dr. Femi Thomas and the acting Executive Secretary of the NHIS, Mr. Femi Akingbade.
In a petition letter with reference no. CATBAN/EFCC-PT-NHIS-001 dated June 2nd 2017 and addressed to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and made available to Economic Confidential in Abuja, the NGO stated that after diligent investigation of the monumental fraud running into billions of Naira by these top management staff of NHIS, it recommended prosecution of those involved.
The petition further alleged that the immediate past NHIS boss made illegal payment N1.05 billion to Health Maintenance Organizations(HMOs) under the guise of arrears without any approval, authorization from the board of the governing Council or budgetary allocation as reported by the 2015 Auditor General of the Federation report.
Investigation also reveals that monetary approvals in excess of N2,500,000 must be ratified by the board before spending, but this was never followed as the former NHIS helmsman unilaterally made payment of the above sum.
On the purchase of land at inflated price, the culprit also bought land on behalf of NHIS for N990 Million against the budgeted sum of N500 million, with an agency fee of N90 million. He also in connivance with the acting Executive Secretary duplicated data for the 2013 and 2014 Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) knowing fully well that the data was compromised and made a dubious payment of N1 billion and Fifty Million Naira to some HMOs.
Other acts of commission include the fraudulent fixed deposit of N193.3 billion placed in eleven (11) commercial banks in one day with an interest rate of 2% at a time when the prevailing CBN interest rate was 9.2%. He was also accused of refusal to pay hospital bills, failure to remit funds to the Treasury Single Account(TSA), apart from several other atrocities .
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, the National Convener of CATBAN, Mr. Ibrahim Garba Wala said the group demands among other things the immediate arrest of the former NHIS boss Dr. Femi Thomas and the Acting Executive Secretary Mr Akingbade for their roles in the monumental fraud, identification and prosecution of all those involved in withholding funds belonging to hospitals that render services to enrollees, identification and prosecution of all those involved in fraudulent fix deposit accounts in 11 commercial banks at ridiculous interest rates, contrary to the provisions of the CBN among others.