The Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi, and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, are currently being held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged mismanagement of the N90 billion 2024 Hajj subsidy.
According to a document seen on Wednesday, the EFCC recovered a total of SR314,098 from Arabi and other top officials of the commission.
According to the report, the EFCC’s investigation revealed that Arabi and others fraudulently overpaid themselves operational costs from the N90 billion Hajj subsidy.
The approved 2024 Hajj operational costs for the Chairman/CEO, Commissioners, Secretary, and Directors/Chief of Staff were stipulated as $4,250, $12,750, $3,825, and $15,300, respectively.
However, the EFCC alleged that Arabi overpaid himself and others, with the chairman receiving SR50,000 instead of the approved SR15,929. Three commissioners received SR40,000 each instead of SR15,929, while the secretary received SR30,000 instead of SR14,336. Directors/Chief of Staff received SR30,000 instead of SR2,550.
The EFCC said it recovered a total of SR314,098 from all the officials involved.
