ICPC
ICPC arrests, quizzes NAHCON top officials over N90bn FG’s funding
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICOC, had arrested some top officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, over alleged mismanagement and diversion of the N90 billion Federal Government’s subsidise for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
The arrested officials were taken to the anti-graft agency’s office following their failure to honour earlier invitations extended to them by the ICPC.
A source at the commission added that the officials were quizzed for hours on the N90 billion subsidy for pilgrims upon their arrival at the anti-graft agency’s office.
The source said, “On Wednesday some of our men were at the Hajji commission’s office to bring some officials to our office. We invited these officials but they didn’t show up. They were interrogated upon their arrival at the commission’s office. The officials are being investigated following petitions against them as regards the subsidy for pilgrims.”
The spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, Demola Bakare, on Sunday confirmed that the officials were brought to the ICPC’s office, adding that they had been released after meeting their bail conditions.
Bakare said, “Yes, they were in our office; they were released after granting them bail and met their bail conditions. They are top officials but their chairman is not included, please. Investigations continue.”
Bakare, however, denied that the ICPC shut down NAHCON office.
“We didn’t shut down the commission as being speculated. We only went there for officials who failed to honour our invitation,” he said.
The arrest of the official of the commission came days after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, interrogated NAHCON Chairman, Jalal Arabi, over alleged mismanagement of the N90bn 2024 Hajj subsidy.
Following the alarm raised by the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago, the National Assembly had opened a probe of NAHCON over the alleged misuse of the N90bn Hajj subsidy.
Addressing a post-Hajj press conference in Abuja on July 29, Arabi insisted that the funds were transparently utilised, dismissing insinuations of corruption.
“Each pilgrim was supported with N1,637,369.87 from the N90bn except for pilgrims under the Hajj Savings Scheme who enjoyed more. Hence, all registered intending pilgrims, except those on HSS, were required to pay a balance of N1,918,094.87 since the N90bn was not sufficient to make up for the balance,” Arabi maintained.
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