The Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi, along with the commission’s Secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of mismanaging the N90 billion subsidy allocated for the 2024 Hajj operations.
According to documents obtained by The PUNCH, the EFCC’s investigation has so far led to the recovery of 314,098 Saudi Riyals from the NAHCON chairman and other top officials involved in the scheme. The anti-graft agency alleges that Arabi and his colleagues fraudulently inflated their operational costs, leading to substantial overpayments.
The 2024 Hajj operational budget specified that the Chairman/CEO was entitled to $4,250, while commissioners, the Secretary, and Directors/Chief of Staff were allotted $12,750, $3,825, and $15,300, respectively. However, the EFCC claims that Arabi illegally approved higher amounts for himself and others. Instead of receiving SR15,929, Arabi allegedly collected SR50,000. Similarly, the three commissioners each received SR40,000 instead of SR15,929, the Secretary obtained SR30,000 instead of SR14,336, and the Directors/Chief of Staff received SR30,000 instead of SR2,550.
The discrepancies came to light after the EFCC’s probe, which began in July 2024. Arabi was initially interrogated by the EFCC on July 29 and released on bail, but was re-arrested on Wednesday for further questioning. An EFCC source confirmed that both Arabi and Kontagora are currently in custody and are undergoing rigorous questioning related to the N90 billion subsidy and other alleged financial misconducts.
The investigation also revealed that SR8,614,175.27 in cash withdrawals from NAHCON’s accounts remains unaccounted for. Further findings from the probe indicated that substantial sums intended for staff allowances and operational expenses were misappropriated.
The situation has drawn significant attention following allegations by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who recently criticized the handling of financial matters by government officials. Additionally, previous revelations by former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani about the exorbitant allowances received by lawmakers have fueled public outcry over financial mismanagement in government circles.
As investigations continue, the EFCC has recovered funds from NAHCON officials, including payments made for services not rendered, and estacodes (travel allowances) paid to staff who did not undertake official trips. The anti-graft agency is expected to intensify its efforts to uncover the full extent of the alleged financial misconduct at NAHCON.
