The EFCC has detained NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi and Secretary Abdullahi Kontagora over ₦90 billion Hajj subsidy mismanagement. The investigation uncovered fraudulent overpayments and missing funds. Recoveries include SR314,098, with further scrutiny revealing inflated operational costs and unaccounted transactions. The probe continues to expose deep financial irregularities.
In a major development in the ongoing investigation into the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Jalal Arabi, NAHCON’s Executive Chairman, and Abdullahi Kontagora, the commission’s secretary. The detention is linked to allegations of gross mismanagement of ₦90 billion allocated for the 2024 Hajj subsidy.
The EFCC’s probe has uncovered significant financial discrepancies within the commission. According to recent revelations, the commission's officials, including Arabi and Kontagora, have been implicated in fraudulent overpayments from the subsidy fund. The commission has already recovered SR314,098 from these officials, with reports indicating that funds were misappropriated through inflated operational costs.
Documents from the EFCC indicate that the approved allowances for key NAHCON officials were significantly exceeded. For instance, while the chairman was entitled to SR15,929, he allegedly paid himself SR50,000. Similarly, three commissioners who should have received SR15,929 each were paid SR40,000, and the secretary was paid SR30,000, though his entitled amount was SR14,336. Payments to directors and chiefs of staff also far exceeded their allocations.
The investigation, which commenced on July 29 with Arabi’s initial questioning, has since expanded. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has also been involved, arresting several top NAHCON officials for their roles in the alleged fund diversion.
EFCC sources confirm that Arabi and Kontagora are being held for further interrogation. A substantial sum, SR8,614,175.27, withdrawn from the subsidy fund, remains unaccounted for. Documents reveal that the funds were converted into U.S. dollars and transferred to NAHCON’s account in Saudi Arabia. Discrepancies, particularly concerning withdrawals by Abubakar Muhammed Lamin during the 2024 Hajj operation, have prompted further scrutiny.
Additional questionable financial activities have surfaced, including payments made to staff who did not participate in authorized study tours and unverified consultancy fees amounting to SR1,026,000.00 and SR1,780,019.99 paid to Shuraka'a al-Khair Group Ltd. Investigations reveal that these payments were allegedly made for debt recovery services that were never provided.
The ongoing investigation continues to reveal the depth of financial mismanagement within NAHCON, with further revelations expected in the coming days.
