Jalal Arabi, the former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and Abdullahi Kontagora, the Commission’s Secretary, have been released on bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They were previously held in custody for five days due to allegations of mismanaging the ₦90 billion 2024 Hajj intervention fund.
Arabi and Kontagora were released on August 19 after meeting their bail conditions. The EFCC’s ongoing investigation revealed significant irregularities, including the alleged overpayment of salaries and the misuse of funds intended for the Hajj subsidy. The agency has recovered 314,098 Saudi Riyal (SAR) but continues to probe the remaining discrepancies.
The EFCC discovered that payments were made to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd for services not rendered, with fraudulent backdating of documents to release SAR 780,019.59. Despite their release, the investigation into the remaining funds continues.
In a related development, President Bola Tinubu dismissed Arabi on August 19 and appointed Prof. Abdullahi Usman as the new NAHCON Chairman. The investigation remains ongoing as the EFCC seeks to address the full extent of the mismanagement.