- Jalal Arabi and Abdullahi Kontagora are being investigated and detained for allegedly mismanaging the N90 billion allocated for the 2024 Hajj
- EFCC’s investigation revealed that Arabi fraudulently paid himself and others amount exceeding the authorised operational costs from the N90 billion Hajj subsidy
- A total of SR314,098 was seized from the NAHCON chairman and other high-level officials, as disclosed by the anti-graft agency
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Jalal Arabi, the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), along with the commission's Secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora for alleged mismanagement of N90 billion 2024 Hajj subsidy.
The two leading officials, Arabi and Kontagora, are currently detained and under investigation according to an unnamed source from EFCC who said, "The Secretary and Chairman of the commission are in our custody and are undergoing serious interrogation regarding the N90 billion subsidy, among other allegations."
SR314,098 was seized from the NAHCON chairman and others
The EFCC’s investigation found that Arabi fraudulently paid himself and others amounts exceeding the authorised operational costs from the N90 billion Hajj subsidy.
The document detailed the approved 2024 Hajj operational costs for various officials as follows: Chairman/CEO - $4,250, Commissioners - $12,750, Secretary - $3,825, and Directors/Chief of Staff - $15,300.
A total of SR314,098 was seized from the NAHCON chairman and other high-level officials, as disclosed by the anti-graft agency.
Arabi and others allegedly received fraudulent overpayments
EFCC accused the chairman and other officials of receiving fraudulent overpayments. The chairman, entitled to SR15,929, was given SR50,000; three commissioners, supposed to receive SR15,929 each, were paid SR40,000 each; the secretary got SR30,000 instead of SR14,336; and the Directors/Chief of Staff were overpaid with SR30,000 instead of their entitled SR2,550. A total of SR314,098 was recovered from these overpayments.
The probe into the commission's operations, which started from 2022, led to the recovery of funds paid as estacodes to staff who did not participate in study tours, along with payments to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd for services that were never provided.
The document revealed that the investigation uncovered fraudulent backdating of payment approvals for consultancy services to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd, which led to the recovery of SR1,026,000.00, equivalent to nearly N430,920,000, from Eastern Gulf Company in Saudi Arabia.
FG allocated N90 billion, N1,764,705,937.62 deducted as bank charges
The government allocated N90 billion to the National Hajj Commission for the 2024 Hajj subsidy, with N1,764,705,937.62 deducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria as bank charges.
The balance of N88,235,294,063.72 was converted to USD at a rate of N1,416.13, resulting in USD 62,307,164.48, and was transferred to NAHCON's British SAAB Account in Saudi Arabia.
This sum was converted to Saudi Riyal at a rate of N3,748, yielding SR233,527,252.47.
The document also detailed that the IBAN-E track for 2024 Hajj activities had an opening balance of SR19,813,810.89, with an inflow of SR485,000,000.00 from NAHCON, resulting in a closing balance of SR78,985,266.03, which includes a SR20,637,908.23 refund from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The document also highlighted that SR22,815,367.74 was withdrawn in cash from the British SAAB account by Abubakar Muhammed Lamin during the 2024 Hajj operation.
While the expected cash payment for services and allowances to staff and stakeholders was SR14,905,910.47, SR8,614,175.27 remained unaccounted for by NAHCON.
Arabi was questioned by the anti-graft agency for hours on July 29, after which he was released on bail.
On Wednesday, August 7, senior officials of the Hajj Commission were arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for allegedly mismanaging or diverting the N90 billion subsidy.
The NAHCON Chairman was detained for additional questioning on Wednesday, August 14, according to a source within the EFCC.
The document revealed that NAHCON has yet to account for SR8,614,175.27 in cash withdrawals from the N90 billion subsidy provided by the Federal Government.
Kano Government files charges against Ganduje, Garo, others over alleged ₦57.4 billion fraud
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State, along with his Commissioner for Local Government Murtala Garo and two others, now face fresh fraud charges filed by the Kano State Government.
According to the report, they were accused of illegally diverting ₦57.4 billion via several personal and corporate accounts, including those of Local Government cashiers.