EFCC grills NAHCON chair Jalal Arabi over N90bn Hajj subsidy mismanagement
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has interrogated Jalal Arabi, the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), regarding allegations of mismanagement related to the N90 billion subsidy allocated for the 2024 Hajj exercise.
This investigation stems from multiple petitions filed against him and his management team, which allege financial misconduct not only concerning the recent Hajj but also dating back to 2021.
Arabi arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, around 10 a.m. and was questioned for several hours by investigators.
The primary focus of this interrogation was to clarify how NAHCON utilized the substantial subsidy provided by the Federal Government for this year’s pilgrimage. An insider revealed that Arabi’s questioning was prompted by serious allegations regarding fund mismanagement within NAHCON.
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In addition to Arabi, three other directors from NAHCON—the Director of Procurement, Director of Finance, and Director of Programmes—were also summoned for questioning. This indicates a broader inquiry into the commission’s financial practices and governance.
The N90 billion subsidy was intended to support Nigerian pilgrims during their Hajj journey. At a recent press conference, Arabi defended NAHCON’s handling of these funds, stating that each pilgrim received substantial financial support from this allocation. Specifically, he mentioned that each pilgrim was supported with approximately N1,637,369.87 from the total subsidy amount.
However, criticisms have emerged regarding how effectively these funds were distributed and managed. For instance, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has called for an investigation into how this money was utilized, highlighting concerns about inadequate support provided to pilgrims despite significant payments made by them.
The scrutiny over NAHCON’s operations intensified when the House of Representatives decided to establish an ad hoc committee aimed at investigating these allegations further. This decision followed a motion raised by lawmaker Mohammed Bio, who pointed out various shortcomings in NAHCON’s management during the 2024 Hajj exercise.
As part of its investigative process, it is expected that if necessary, Arabi may be asked to return for additional questioning based on what emerges from ongoing inquiries. However, sources indicate that he is unlikely to be detained as long as he continues to cooperate with EFCC investigators.
The ongoing investigation into Jalal Arabi and NAHCON highlights significant concerns regarding transparency and accountability in managing public funds allocated for religious purposes in Nigeria. The outcome of this inquiry could have far-reaching implications for both NAHCON’s leadership and future Hajj operations in Nigeria.
