Balami informed the court that Lubekh Nigeria Ltd submitted documents for the contract award and that the company’s documents were eventually evaluated.
A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Prof Usman Yusuf, on Thursday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kuje, Abuja, that a vehicle supply contract awarded to a company linked to the ex-NHIA boss did not pass through the required procurement procedures.
The witness, James Balami, who testified as the Second Prosecution Witness (PW2), made the disclosure before Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuchiako, Kuje, Abuja, during the continuation of hearing in the alleged corruption and procurement breach case against the former NHIA boss.
Balami, who is the Director of Procurement at NHIA, told the court that the contract in question was awarded to Lubekh Nigeria Ltd, a company allegedly owned by Kabiru Yusuf Yar’adua, whom he identified as a brother to Prof Yusuf.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Francis Usani, the witness explained that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had written to the NHIA requesting information concerning three companies — Lubekh Nigeria Ltd, Zaramat Global Company Ltd, and GK Kanki Foundation.
