The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday invited the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Jalal Arabi for questioning.
This was not unconnected with allegations bordering on mismanagement of hajj funds.
THISDAY reported that a source at the EFCC’s headquarters claimed that the NAHCON boss was invited to give explanation on an ongoing investigation of about ₦200 billion fraud that occurred around 2020 and 2021, but another said Arabi was invited over a series of petitions that arose from the just concluded 2024 Hajj exercise.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has disbursed ₦90 billion to subsidize the cost of travel to the holy land for Nigerian pilgrims.
Confirming Arabi’s presence at the commission to Thisday on Tuesday morning, an anonymous source stated that the NAHCON boss arrived at the headquarters a few minutes before 10:00 am and was already being interrogated by a team of detectives.
“As of now, NAHCON chairman has been invited; he is already being interrogated by our crack detectives to provide explanations on some issues that border on allegations of fund mismanagement in the commission” , the source said.
When asked if Arabi’s investigation was connected to the management of the 2024 Hajj funds, the source explained that the commission has been investigating NAHCON since 2021 over the mismanagement of N200 billion. The source added that three officials from NAHCON have already made useful statements, and the CEO, being the custodian of the records, was invited to provide information.
“The investigation has been ongoing since 2021,” he said, adding that investigators described the findings as very messy.
The three NAHCON officials who have made useful statements to the anti-graft agency include the directors of procurement, finance, and programme.
“Today, the Chief Executive Officer is invited to explain how the funds allocated to the commission are being spent,” he added.
While the source could not ascertain how long Arabi would spend with the agency during the interrogation, he assured that Arabi would be allowed to leave and return the following day if necessary.
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