EFCC detains Hajj Commission’s chairman, secretary over N90 billion subsidy fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Arabi, and the secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, over alleged N90 billion hajj subsidy fraud.

Politics Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu had approved N90 billion for the commission to subsidize the hajj cost of pilgrims.

But the EFCC began inviting top officials of the Hajj Commission for questioning over alleged mismanagement of the funds.

A document by the anti-graft agency showed that a total of SR314,098 was recovered from the NAHCON chairman and other officials.

The anti-graft agency stressed that its investigation revealed that from the N90 billion released for Hajj subsidy, Arabi, fraudulently overpaid himself and others the necessary operational cost.

Also according to the document, the approved 2024 Hajj operational cost for the Chairman/CEO Commissioners, Secretary and Directors/Chief of Staff in the 2024 budget are stipulated as $4,250,  $12,750, $3,825 and $15,300, respectively.

“The chairman fraudulently overpaid himself, the commissioners, secretary and directors for the 2024 hajj operational cost,” the document said.

“The chairman was entitled to SR15,929 but he got SR50,000; three commissioners who were meant to get SR 15,929 each received SR 40,000 each. The secretary got SR 30,000 instead of SR14,336. Directors/Chief of Staff received SR 30,000 instead of the SR2,550 they were entitled to. The total of SR314,098 were recovered from all of them.”

Another document revealed that the sum of SR8,614,175.27 cash withdrawal out of the N90 billion released by the Federal Government to the commission is yet to be accounted for by NAHCON.

“The sum of N90bn was released by the Federal Government of Nigeria to the National Hajj Commission to subsidise the 2024 Hajj Operations by the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the document stated.

“The total sum of N1, 764,705,937.62 was deducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria as bank charges.

“The sum of N88, 235,294,063.72 was subsequently converted into United States dollars at the rate of N1,416.13, which amounted to USD 62,307,164.48 and thereafter transferred into NAHCON British SAAB Account in Saudi Arabia.

“The sum of USD 62,307,164.48 was converted to Saudi Riyal at the rate of N3,748, which amounted to the sum of SR 233,527,252.47.

“That the opening balance of the IBAN-E track for 2024 Hajj activities was SR 19,813,810.89 and has an inflow of SR 485,000,000.00 from NAHCON with a closing balance of SR 78,985,266.03.

“That the closing balance is inclusive of the SR20,637,908.23 refunded from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Saudi Arabia.

“That the total sum of SR 22, 815,367.74 was withdrawn cash from the British SAAB account by one Abubakar Muhammed Lamin in Saudi Arabia during the 2024 Hajj operation.

“The expected cash payment for services and allowances to staff and stakeholders is SR 14,905,910.47.

“That the total sum of SR 8,614,175.27 cash withdrawal is yet to be accounted for by NAHCON.”