The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Jalal Arabi, to its headquarters in Abuja.
Arabi is expected to appear before the EFCC’s crack detectives today, Tuesday, to explain how his commission spent the N90 billion subsidy provided for the 2024 Hajj exercise.
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Sources within the EFCC revealed that Arabi will also provide detailed explanations on how NAHCON shared thousands of dollars allocated to it for the pilgrims.
The EFCC is investigating a series of petitions against Arabi and the commission over alleged maltreatment of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during the 2024 exercise.
The EFCC’s invitation to Arabi is part of its efforts to tame financial crimes and fraudulent activities in the country.
“We’re doing our job as prescribed in law without minding whose ox is gored. In the EFCC, nothing concerns us with religion or tribe, what is important for us is to tame financial crimes and other fraudulent activities in our society,” a source said.
Earlier, Arabi had explained that the N90 billion intervention was approved by the president to assist pilgrims due to the instability of the naira. He said the commission used the funds to support pilgrims who paid for the 2024 Hajj through the government quota.
However, the EFCC’s investigation may also look into allegations of inadequate space given to Tent A pilgrims from Nigeria, including some state governors and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.
The Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, had called for the scrapping of NAHCON due to its conduct of the 2024 Hajj.