N90bn Hajj Fund Probe: Why NAHCON Boss, Secretary Still in Detention
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N90bn Hajj Fund Probe: Why NAHCON Boss, Secretary Still in Detention
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has confirmed the detention of the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Jalal Arabi, and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, in connection with the probe into the spending of N90bn Hajj fund provided by the federal government for the 2024 pilgrimage.
According to a reliable source within the EFCC, the agency has recovered a total of SR314,098 (over N120m) from Arabi and other ranking officials.
The source alleged that Arabi misused part of the support fund entrusted to him by the federal government, paying himself and other officials excessive amounts of money.
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The EFCC’s investigation revealed discrepancies in the approved 2024 Hajj operational costs, with Arabi receiving SR50,000 instead of the entitled SR15,929. Similarly, three commissioners received SR40,000 each instead of SR15,929, while the secretary received SR30,000 instead of SR14,336.
INCNews247 learnt Directors and Chief of Staff also received SR30,000 instead of the entitled SR2,550.
The EFCC had initially grilled Arabi for hours on July 29 and released him on bail.
However, he was taken in again on Wednesday for further questioning and detained. The secretary of the commission is also facing serious interrogations alongside Arabi.
This development comes after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, arrested top officials of the Hajj commission last week over alleged mismanagement or diversion of the N90bn subsidy.
