N90bn Subsidy: EFCC Quizzes Hajj Commission Boss Arabi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, grilled the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi, for over seven hours over alleged mismanagement of the 2024 hajj exercise fund.

LEADERSHIP also gathered that three directors from the Hajj Commission had been invited and quizzed in connection with the matter.

Arabi, who was invited by the antigraft agency, arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi district of Abuja at about 10am and was immediately quizzed by the waiting EFCC team of investigators.

As at the time of filing this report, Arabi was still being quizzed and a source at the commission confirmed that he may likely be granted administrative bail eventually.

On the reason for the invitation, the source said the commission received some petitions against Arabi and he needed to clear himself.

According to the source, “He was invited to the commission’s office to explain how his commission spent the N90 billion subsidy provided for the 2024 hajj exercise.

“His invitation was a result of the petitions against the chairman and his management team to our office over the alleged mismanagement of funds in the commission, and the 2024 hajj exercise, among others. The allegations he was asked to explain dates back to 2021 and not just the issue of the just-concluded exercise.

“He may not be detained but will be asked to come back if needed at the end of the day, but presently he is still being interrogated.

“The CEO has been invited, he has honoured the invitation, and he will go back, there is no reason to keep him in custody when he is already complying.

“The new EFCC is operating by international best practice, you can see that most of the people invited are always allowed to go if they comply.”

On the NAHCON directors invited earlier, the source said: “Three directors from the commission have been invited to explain what they know about the issue, they include the director of procurement, director of finance, and director of the programme.”

Meanwhile, the spokesman of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, declined comment, stating that he would revert to our correspondent afterwards.