EFCC Detains NAHCON Chair Over Alleged Misuse of ₦90bn Hajj Subsidy Funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Jalal Arabi, the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), along with Abdullahi Kontagora, the commission's secretary.

The detainment is part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged gross mismanagement of ₦90 billion allocated for the 2024 Hajj subsidy.

The EFCC's probe has already led to the recovery of SR314,098 from Arabi and other senior officials within NAHCON.

These funds are believed to be part of fraudulent overpayments made from the subsidy fund.

According to an EFCC document, "The chairman fraudulently overpaid himself, the commissioners, secretary, and directors for the 2024 Hajj operational cost."

Further details from the investigation reveal that the approved operational costs for key officials were significantly inflated.

For instance, while the chairman was entitled to SR15,929, he allegedly paid himself SR50,000.

Similarly, three commissioners who were supposed to receive SR15,929 each reportedly got SR40,000 each.

The secretary received SR30,000 instead of the stipulated SR14,336, and the directors/Chief of Staff were paid SR30,000, far exceeding their entitlement of SR2,550.

The scope of the EFCC's investigation extends beyond these inflated operational costs. A substantial sum SR8,614,175.27 withdrawn from the ₦90 billion Hajj subsidy remains unaccounted for.

The Federal Government's allocation was converted into U.S. dollars and transferred to NAHCON's British SAAB account in Saudi Arabia.

However, discrepancies in cash withdrawals, particularly those made by one Abubakar Muhammed Lamin during the 2024 Hajj operation, have raised red flags.

The investigation also uncovered other questionable financial activities dating back to 2022.

Among these were payments made to staff who did not participate in authorized study tours and payments to Shuraka'a al-Khair Group Ltd for services that were never rendered.

The EFCC recovered estacodes paid to staff who did not travel and identified fraudulent consultancy fees amounting to SR1,026,000.00 and SR1,780,019.99 paid to Shuraka'a al-Khair Group Ltd.

These payments were purportedly made for debt recovery from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia.

In a shocking admission, Arabi confessed that the consultant did not render any services.

The ongoing investigation continues to unravel the extent of financial mismanagement within NAHCON, highlighting significant issues of corruption and financial misconduct in the administration of the Hajj subsidy.

This case draws attention to broader concerns about transparency and accountability in government operations.

As the EFCC intensifies its probe, more revelations are likely to emerge in the coming days.

A source within the EFCC, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that Arabi and Kontagora were retaken into custody on Wednesday for further questioning.

"The Secretary and Chairman of the commission are in our custody and are facing serious interrogations on the ₦90bn subsidy, among other allegations," the source disclosed.