By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
DETAILS have emerged on how the N90 billion subsidy released by the Nigerian government for the 2024 Hajj operation was squandered by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
A BBC report showed that the NAHCON chairman, Mr. Jalal Arabi, paid himself N21.2 million, instead of N6.7m; and paid commissioners N16.9 million instead of N6, 7 million.
A source within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the report has it that a total of SR314, 098, totalling N132, 901. 145.76, using the N423.12 current exchange rate, has, so far, been recovered from the detained Executive Chairman of NAHCON and other ranking officials.
“The reliable source confirmed to the BBC that the agency is still detaining the chairman and the secretary of the commission, Abdullahi Kontagora.
“He said the EFCC found out that Arabi used part of the N90b support fund entrusted to him by the Federal Government in paying himself and other officials excessive amounts of money,” the report noted.
The EFCC source further said the approved 2024 Hajj operational cost for the Chairman/CEO, Commissioners, Secretary and Directors/Chief of Staff in the 2024 budget contradicted what was stipulated.
According to him, the chairman was entitled to a total of N6, 739, 878.48 (SR15, 929), but got 21, 156, 000 (SR50, 000); three commissioners, meant to get N6, 739, 878, 12 (SR15, 929) each, received 16, 924, 800 (SR40, 000) each.
The source further revealed that the secretary got N12, 693, 600 (SR30, 000) instead of N6, 065, 848.32 (NSR14, 336); while Directors/Chief of Staff received N6, 065, 848.32 (SR30, 000) instead of the N1. 078, 956 (SR2, 550) entitled to.
Stonix News reports that the EFCC is probing how NAHCON spent N90bn Hajj that the Federal Government gave to the commission for the 2024 pilgrimage amid hunger and hardship in Nigeria.
The anti-graft agency had first grilled Arabi for hours on July 29 and lated released him on bail.
Also, last week Wednesday, some top officials of the Hajj commission were also arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged mismanagement or diversion of the N90bn subsidy.
The source in the EFCC said that the NAHCON chairman was taken in again on Wednesday for further questioning and was detained.
“The secretary and chairman of the commission are in our custody and are facing serious interrogations on the N90bn subsidy, among other allegations,” the source further noted.
Recall that the Niger State governor, Mohammed Bago, had called on the National Assembly to probe the N90bn subsidy for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.
Bago had alleged that the performance of the National Hajj Commission NAHCON during the operation was a failure.
“The N90bn subsidy paid by the Federal government for the Hajj operation, with some states, including Niger, paying about billions of naira; there is need for the National Assembly to probe the N90bn the Federal Government released for the 2024 Hajj.
“It is ridiculous that pilgrims were given only $400 to take care of themselves for about 40 days despite the payment of N8m by each pilgrim.
“The N90bn would have made more impact if shared with states. The money is enough to run the Universal Basic Education budget for four years,” Bago had said.
What's your reaction?
