Mallam Jalal Arabi, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning.
The NAHCON boss was asked to present himself at the EFCC headquarters situated in the Jabi area of Abuja in a bid to probe the fund released to subsidize the 2024 Hajj exercise.
Arabi, who is anticipated to arrive at the anti-corruption agency’s premises by 10:00 am today (Tuesday), is scheduled to present a detailed account to the investigative team at the EFCC regarding the utilization of the ₦90 billion subsidy allocated for the 2024 Hajj exercise.
According to Daily Trust, sources within the anti-corruption agency, who are privy to the details, have also disclosed that Arabi will elucidate on the distribution of funds allocated to NAHCON for the benefit of pilgrims.
It was reported that the anti-graft agency intends to interrogate the NAHCON Chairman on several petitions filed against him and the commission, alleging the mistreatment of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during the 2024 Hajj.
“We’re doing our job as prescribed in law without minding whose ox is gored. In the EFCC, nothing concerns us with religion or tribe; what is important for us is to tame financial crimes and other fraudulent activities in our society.
“As of now, the NAHCON chairman has been invited; he will meet our crack detectives to provide explanations on some issues that border on financial transactions,” one of the sources, who is familiar with the matter, told journalists.
Upon inquiry via telephone on Tuesday morning, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, informed newsmen that he would investigate the details of the invitation and provide further information upon his return.
Oyewale has yet to provide further details regarding the investigation at the time of writing this report.
Meanwhile, during a press briefing on Monday, Arabi disclosed to journalists that pilgrims who had availed themselves of the government’s quota for the 2024 Hajj were provided with financial support of ₦1.6 million, attributed to the instability of the naira.
He elaborated that, due to the depreciation of the national currency, a result of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s foreign exchange reform, the funds received from pilgrims who had made payments prior to the event were insufficient.
In response, he mentioned that the commission had sought assistance from the federal government to secure a concessionary exchange rate of ₦850/$1 for pilgrims.
However, the head of NAHCON’s boss stated that instead of the requested rate, the president authorized an ₦90 billion intervention to aid the pilgrims, with the funds being utilized by NAHCON for this purpose.
Furthermore, it was reported that the incumbent Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago, has expressed his support for the abolishing of NAHCON, citing its handling of the 2024 Hajj as a reason for his dissatisfaction.
His concerns were particularly directed at the insufficient space allocated to Tent A pilgrims, which included several state governors and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.
