EFCC Releases Ex-Hajj Commission Chairman Amidst Ongoing ₦90bn Fraud Investigation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released Jalal Arabi, the former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and Abdullahi Kontagora, the Commission's Secretary, on bail.

The two officials were detained for allegedly mismanaging the ₦90 billion 2024 Hajj intervention fund.

The EFCC's investigation has uncovered substantial irregularities, including overpayments to officials and fraudulent payments for services that were never rendered. So far, the anti-graft agency has recovered 314,098 Saudi Riyal.

Despite their release, the investigation is ongoing. A source familiar with the case confirmed, "The former Hajj Commission chairman and the secretary have been released, and the investigation is still ongoing.

They were released on Monday after meeting their bail conditions. Nothing yet on the matter. No other recoveries except for the earlier ones." President Bola Tinubu responded to these developments by dismissing Arabi on August 19 and appointing Prof. Abdullahi Usman as his replacement.

This move shows the administration's commitment to addressing financial misconduct within Nigerian institutions.

The EFCC's findings revealed that Arabi and other senior officials allegedly overpaid themselves from the ₦90 billion allocated for the Hajj subsidy.

Additionally, payments were made to Shuraka'a al-Khair Group Ltd for services that were not rendered, with documents fraudulently backdated to facilitate the release of SAR 780,019.59 to the group.

"The EFCC's investigation into the mismanagement of the Hajj intervention fund has uncovered irregularities," stated an EFCC official.

"Reports revealed that Arabi and others allegedly overpaid themselves from the ₦90 billion allocated for the Hajj subsidy."