N90bn Hajj Fraud: Tinubu Sacks NAHCON Chairman, Arabi, Appoints Usman
President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi, over the alleged mismanagement of the N90 billion 2024 Hajj subsidy.
The Presidency in a statement on Monday, August 19, 2024 announced the appointment of Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the new Executive Chairman of NAHCON.
It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested and detained Arabi alongside the NAHCON Secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, at its custody in Abuja over the alleged fraud.
The anti-graft agency, in a document obtained on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, disclosed that SR314,098 (Saudi Riyad) was recovered from the sacked NAHCON chairman and other officials.
The EFCC noted that its investigation revealed that from the N90 billion Hajj subsidy, Arabi fraudulently overpaid himself and others the necessary operational cost.
It stated: “The chairman fraudulently overpaid himself, the commissioners, secretary and directors for the 2024 hajj operational cost.
“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.”
The anti-graft agency had first grilled Arabi for hours on July 29 and released him on bail.
The Presidency stated that Prof. Usman is a renowned scholar with qualifications from the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan.
He is also well-grounded in Hajj operations, having served as the Chairman of Kano State Pilgrims Board, and successfully superintended the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said the President expects the new Chairman of NAHCON to discharge his duties with integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation.
