J alal Arabi, the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and Abdullahi Kontagora, the commission’s secretary, are 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.
According to a document obtained by our correspondent, the EFCC has recovered a total of SR314,098 from Arabi and other senior officials. The anti-graft agency's investigation revealed that Arabi and his team fraudulently overpaid themselves and others involved in the operational costs for the Hajj.
The EFCC's findings indicate discrepancies between the approved operational costs and the amounts actually disbursed. The approved costs for the Chairman, Commissioners, Secretary, and Directors/Chief of Staff were significantly exceeded. Specifically, Arabi was entitled to SR15,929 but received SR50,000, while the Commissioners and Secretary also received amounts higher than their approved budgets.
The EFCC had initially interrogated Arabi on July 29 and subsequently released him on bail. Recent developments include the detention of both Arabi and Kontagora as the EFCC continues its probe. Last week, additional NAHCON officials were also arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for their alleged involvement in the mismanagement of the Hajj funds.
A document released by the EFCC outlines several financial irregularities. It details that SR8,614,175.27 of cash withdrawals from the N90 billion are unaccounted for. The document further reveals that the total amount converted from Nigerian Naira to Saudi Riyals was SR233,527,252.47. Out of this, SR22,815,367.74 was withdrawn as cash by Abubakar Muhammed Lamin, with SR14,905,910.47 expected for services and allowances, leaving SR8,614,175.27 unaccounted.
Additional findings include fraudulent payments for consultancy services to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd, which did not render the services purportedly paid for. The investigation also uncovered that estacodes were paid to staff who did not undertake the study tours and that payments were made for services that were never delivered.
The EFCC has called for a thorough examination of these irregularities and the recovery of misappropriated funds to ensure accountability and integrity within the NAHCON.
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