The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Arabi has come under investigation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on alleged misappropriation of the 2024 Hajj exercise funds, particularly the N90bn subsidy.
Symptom that harms in the form of investigation and possible prosecution would come Arabi’s way emerged in June when Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, called on investigation to be launched into the N90bn released by the Federal Government to subsidise the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
“The N90bn subsidy paid by the Federal government for the Hajj operation, with some states, including Niger, paying about billions of naira; there is need for the National Assembly to probe the N90bn the Federal Government released for the 2024 Hajj. It is ridiculous that pilgrims were given only $400 to take care of themselves for about 40 days despite the payment of N8m by each pilgrim,” Bago said.
As it stands, the Hajj Commission Chairman was guest of the EFCC on Tuesday in the headquarters of the anti-graft agency, Abuja to face interrogation over the said fund and other financial matters.
The occasion was made known by Punchng citing an inside source as saying about the investigation: “He was invited to the commission’s office to explain how his commission spent the N90bn subsidy provided for the 2024 hajj exercise.
“His invitation was a result of the petitions against the chairman and his management team to our office over the alleged mismanagement of funds in the commission, and the 2024 Hajj exercise, among others.
“The allegations he was asked to respond to date back to 2021 and not just the issue of the just concluded exercise.”
