The Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi, and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, are currently detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged mismanagement of the N90 billion allocated for the 2024 Hajj subsidy.
The EFCC’s investigation revealed significant discrepancies in the operational costs disbursed to NAHCON officials. According to the EFCC, Arabi and other senior officials were found to have fraudulently overpaid themselves. For instance, Arabi was entitled to SR15,929 but received SR50,000. Similarly, commissioners received SR40,000 each instead of SR15,929, and the secretary received SR30,000 instead of SR14,336. Directors and Chief of Staff were overpaid SR30,000 instead of SR2,550. The total amount recovered from these discrepancies is SR314,098.
The EFCC’s probe also uncovered that SR8,614,175.27 of the N90 billion remains unaccounted for. The funds were part of a larger sum converted from Nigerian Naira to US Dollars and then to Saudi Riyals for Hajj operations. The document detailed that the opening balance for the 2024 Hajj activities was SR19,813,810.89, with inflows and various transactions affecting the closing balance.
The investigation extends to the recovery of funds for non-rendered consultancy services and estacodes paid to staff who did not undertake their study tours. Notably, SR1,026,000.00 and SR1,780,019.99 were recovered from Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd for purportedly unrendered services.
The EFCC also found that certain payments and approvals were backdated to cover fraudulent activities, including consultancy services that did not occur. The NAHCON officials’ detention follows earlier arrests by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for similar alleged offenses.
The ongoing investigation highlights the need for stringent oversight in the management of large public funds and adherence to proper financial protocols.
