Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has dismissed Jalal Arabi, the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), due to alleged mismanagement of the N90 billion 2024 Hajj subsidy.
The Presidency announced Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the new Executive Chairman of NAHCON on Monday, August 19, 2024.
Additionally, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested and detained Arabi and NAHCON Secretary Abdullahi Kontagora in Abuja over alleged fraud.
According to an EFCC document obtained on August 14, 2024, SR314,098 (Saudi Riyad) was recovered from Arabi and other officials.
The EFCC investigation revealed that Arabi fraudulently overpaid himself and others from the N90 billion Hajj subsidy, exceeding necessary operational costs.
It stated: “The chairman fraudulently overpaid himself, the commissioners, secretary and directors for the 2024 hajj operational cost.
“The chairman was entitled to SR15,929 but he got SR50,000; three commissioners who were meant to get SR 15,929 each received SR 40,000 each.
“The secretary got SR 30,000 instead of SR14,336. Directors/Chief of Staff received SR 30,000 instead of the SR2,550 they were entitled to. The total of SR314,098 were recovered from all of them.”
The anti-graft agency had first grilled Arabi for hours on July 29 and released him on bail.
The Presidency stated that Prof. Usman is a renowned scholar with qualifications from the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan.
He is also well-grounded in Hajj operations, having served as the Chairman of Kano State Pilgrims Board, and successfully superintended the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said the President expects the new Chairman of NAHCON to discharge his duties with integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation.
