Hajj Scandal: EFCC grills NAHCON chairman over alleged misappropriation of fund

The EFCC grilled Malam Jalal Arabi, Chairman of NAHCON, for several hours on Tuesday regarding alleged mismanagement of the N90 billion Hajj subsidy for the 2024 exercise. Arabi, who arrived at the EFCC office at 10:00 am, faced questions about how the funds were utilized.

The investigation follows multiple petitions alleging financial mismanagement by Arabi and his team, particularly concerning the 2024 Hajj funds.

“As of now, NAHCON chairman has been invited, he is already being interrogated by our crack detectives to provide explanations on some issues that border on allegation of fund mismanagement in the commission,” the source said.

According to the source, the investigation is an ongoing investigation dated back to 2021 when the issue of fraud in the commission became messier.

The source disclosed that three directors from the commission have been invited to explain what they know about the issue, they include director of procurement, director of finance and director of programme.

“Now today the Chief Executive Officer is invited to explain how the fund allocated to the commission is being spent.”

When asked if he would be detained or allowed to go the source said the chairman might not likely be detained in as much there is guarantee that he will provide himself when asked tto do so.

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

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

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

When contacted, the spokesman of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said he would get back with detailed information about the invitation. He was yet to do so at the time of filing this report.