The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into the management of the 2024 Hajj exercise fund, totaling N90 billion.
Jalal Arabi, Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), was summoned to the EFCC office on Tuesday to answer questions regarding the commission’s expenditure of the subsidy.
The investigation follows petitions alleging mismanagement of funds by NAHCON’s management, particularly during the 2024 Hajj exercise.
Sources within the commission confirmed that Arabi was questioned by the EFCC to provide clarification on the commission’s handling of the funds allocated for pilgrims.
“As of now, the 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 investigation is ongoing; it is dated back to 2021 when the issue of fraud in the commission became messier.
“There is an ongoing investigation on alleged misappropriation of N200 million before now, and some officials of the commission were invited for questioning.
According to the source, three directors from the commission have been invited to explain what they know about the issue.
‘’Now, the chief executive officer has been invited to explain how the fund allocated to the commission is being spent.
‘” The investigation will continue until EFCC gets to the root of how the fund allocated to the commission was spent,” the source said.
According to the source, the chairman may not be detained if there is a guarantee that he will make himself available when asked to do so.
“He may not be detained but will be asked to come back if needed at the end of the day, but presently, he is still being interrogated.
‘’The CEO has been invited, and he has honoured the invitation; he will go back; there is no reason to keep him in custody when he is already cooperating.
‘’The new EFCC is operating in accordance with international best practices; you can see that most of the people invited are always allowed to go if they comply,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesman for EFCC, Dele Oyewale, promised to revert to the correspondent over the invitation and other details.
Mr Oyewale was yet to do so at the time of filing this report.
Mr Arabi had, at a news briefing on Monday, given the breakdown of how the commission spent the N90 billion subsidy.
He said each pilgrim was supported with N1,637,369.87 from the N90 billion, except for pilgrims under the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS), who enjoyed more.
”How to spread this N90 billion equitably, to such a degree that registered pilgrims would not have to pay additionally to the N4.9 million was tough.
“At first, the N90 billion would only cater conveniently for about 18,000 intending pilgrims out of the about 50,000 duly registered persons as of March 22, 2024.
“Subsequently, appreciation of the Naira to N1,474.00 in the month of May 2024 brought respite to our calculations as it meant a reduction from what the registered pilgrims would have to top up,” he explained.
The EFCC’s probe aims to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, and to address concerns raised by the petitions. The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be provided as more information becomes available.
