Several top officials from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have been interrogated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) following allegations of mismanagement or diversion of the N90 billion allocated by the Federal Government to subsidize the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
The officials were apprehended at their offices after failing to respond to prior invitations from the ICPC. Upon their arrival at the anti-graft agency’s office, they were questioned for several hours regarding the subsidy funds. An ICPC source, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the officials were under investigation due to petitions alleging irregularities in the distribution of the subsidy.
ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare confirmed that the officials had been released after meeting their bail conditions, clarifying that the agency had not included NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi in the investigation, nor had it shut down the commission’s operations.
This development comes just days after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) questioned NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi about the alleged mismanagement of the same N90 billion subsidy. The investigation was prompted by concerns raised by Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, leading the National Assembly to initiate a probe into the matter.
In response to the allegations, Arabi addressed the press on July 29, insisting that the funds were used transparently. He explained that each pilgrim received a subsidy of N1,637,369.87 from the N90 billion, with those under the Hajj Savings Scheme benefiting more. Despite the subsidy, registered pilgrims, except those on the HSS, were still required to pay an additional N1,918,094.87, as the allocated funds were insufficient to cover the full costs.
The investigation remains ongoing as the ICPC continues to probe the use of the Hajj subsidy funds.
