The Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi, along with the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of mismanaging the N90 billion allocated for the 2024 Hajj subsidy. This development, confirmed on Wednesday, has sent shockwaves through the corridors of power, raising questions about the integrity of the Hajj operations in Nigeria.
According to a document obtained by our correspondent, the EFCC’s investigation led to the recovery of 314,098 Saudi Riyal from Arabi and other top officials within NAHCON. The anti-graft agency has accused these officials of fraudulently inflating their operational costs, diverting funds meant for the Hajj subsidy to personal accounts.
The EFCC's findings reveal that Arabi overpaid himself and others well beyond the stipulated operational costs for the 2024 Hajj. For instance, while the approved operational cost for the NAHCON Chairman was SR15,929, Arabi allegedly received SR50,000. Similarly, three commissioners who were entitled to SR15,929 each received SR40,000 each, and the secretary, who should have been paid SR14,336, was instead overpaid to the tune of SR30,000. Directors and the Chief of Staff also received inflated payments of SR30,000 each, as opposed to their entitled SR2,550. The total of these fraudulent payments amounts to SR314,098, all of which has been recovered by the EFCC.
Arabi had previously been questioned by the EFCC on July 29 and was released on bail. However, new developments prompted his re-arrest on Wednesday, where he and Kontagora are undergoing intense interrogation regarding the N90bn subsidy and other related allegations.
This is not the first time that NAHCON has found itself under the scrutiny of anti-corruption agencies. Just last week, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arrested several top officials from the Hajj commission over similar allegations of mismanagement and possible diversion of funds.
Further deepening the scandal, a document exclusively obtained by our correspondent reveals that a sum of SR8,614,175.27, withdrawn in cash from the N90bn allocated by the Federal Government, remains unaccounted for by NAHCON. This raises serious concerns about the transparency and accountability of the Hajj operations under the current leadership.
As the investigation continues, the Nigerian public awaits the full disclosure of the extent of the alleged corruption within NAHCON, with many calling for strict punitive measures against those found guilty of siphoning funds meant for religious obligations. The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent in the fight against corruption in Nigeria's public sector, particularly in agencies handling sensitive operations like the Hajj pilgrimage.
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