The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested several high-ranking officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over allegations of mismanagement or diversion of the ₦90 billion released by the Federal Government to subsidize the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
The arrests occurred at the officials’ offices after they failed to respond to earlier invitations from the ICPC.
According to a source within the commission, the officials were brought in for questioning and interrogated for hours regarding the subsidy funds upon their arrival at the ICPC office.
The source, who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorization to speak to the media, said, “On Wednesday, some of our men were at the Hajj Commission’s office to bring some officials to our office. We had invited these officials, but they didn’t show up. They were interrogated upon their arrival at the commission’s office. The officials are being investigated following petitions against them related to the subsidy for pilgrims.”
The spokesperson for the ICPC, Demola Bakare, confirmed the arrests on Sunday, noting that the officials were released after meeting their bail conditions. He clarified that the Chairman of NAHCON, Jalal Arabi, was not among those arrested. “Yes, they were in our office; they were released after granting them bail and meeting their bail conditions. They are top officials, but their Chairman is not included, please. Investigations continue,” Bakare said.
Bakare also denied rumors that the ICPC had shut down NAHCON’s office, stating, “We didn’t shut down the commission as being speculated. We only went there for officials who failed to honor our invitation.”
These arrests come just days after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) questioned NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi over the alleged mismanagement of the ₦90 billion 2024 Hajj subsidy. This probe follows concerns raised by Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, which led to the National Assembly launching an investigation into the alleged misuse of the funds.
In a post-Hajj press conference in Abuja on July 29, Arabi defended the commission’s handling of the funds, insisting that they were transparently utilized. He explained that each pilgrim received a subsidy of ₦1,637,369.87 from the ₦90 billion, with the exception of those under the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS), who received more. Arabi stated, “All registered intending pilgrims, except those on HSS, were required to pay a balance of ₦1,918,094.87 since the ₦90 billion was not sufficient to make up for the balance.”
