N90bn fraud: Ex-Hajj Commission chairman released from EFCC detention

N90bn fraud: Ex-Hajj Commission chairman released from EFCC detention

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the sacked chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Arabi, and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, on bail.

Arabi and Kontagora were detained for allegedly illicit withdrawals and misuse of the N90 billion 2024 Hajj intervention fund.

They were, however, unable to meet their bail conditions and remained in EFCC detention for five days.

However, speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday, a source acquainted with the case indicated that Arabi and Kontagora had met their bail conditions.

The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Arabi fraudulently paid himself and others for operating expenditures using the N90 billion Hajj subsidy.

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The anti-graft agency also stated that it has recovered 314,098 Saudi Riyals from Arabi and others as part of the continuing investigation.

“The total sum of SR 8,614,175.27 cash withdrawal is yet to be accounted for by NAHCON,” a document sighted by our correspondent stated.

Apart from the Hajj intervention fund, an examination of the commission’s actions since 2022 resulted in the recovery of estacodes paid to workers who did not participate in study tours, as well as payments made to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd. for services that were not provided.

Furthermore, documentation for payment of the consultant services, including the Executive Chairman’s consent, was illegally backdated to January 23, 2024, allowing the payment of SAR 780, 019, 59 to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd. on April 14, 2024.

“The first suspect, Jalal Arabi, confessed that the consultant did not render any services,“ the EFCC alleged.

However, amid the EFCC investigation, President Bola Tinubu fired Arabi on August 19 and selected Prof. Abdullahi Usman as his replacement.

N90bn fraud: Ex-Hajj Commission chairman released from EFCC detention