The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has revealed that it arrested several officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
According to the spokesperson of the commission, Demola Bakare the arrest was in connection with an investigation into the N90 billion Hajj subsidy.
Bakare revealed that several NAHCON officials were taken into custody on Wednesday for allegedly refusing to respond to an invitation from the anti-graft agency.
He clarified that contrary to some media reports, the ICPC did not shut down NAHCON’s offices, emphasizing that the commission acted within the law.
Bakare however, stated that the detained officials, whose names have not been disclosed, are cooperating with the investigation and have been released on bail.
“We are investigating officials of the National Hajj Commission because they either failed or refused to honour the invitation. We, therefore, paid them a friendly visit,” Bakare said. “We didn’t shut down the commission as reported by some journalists. ICPC operates within the confines of the law. Officials arrested, which I can’t name, were released on bail and would henceforth be helping the investigation process until concluded.”
Fatimah Usara, the spokesperson for NAHCON, downplayed the situation, stating that it is standard procedure for the commission’s operations to be scrutinized after each Hajj season.
“Some of the commission’s relevant staff had been making presentations to the ICPC when demanded,” Usara said. “And this is a thing that the commission considers normal because it happens after every Hajj until any doubt is cleared. It’s nothing new.”
She further explained that the Head of Procurement was the specific official who had been invited by the ICPC but failed to report. This prompted the agency to visit NAHCON’s office to ensure compliance.
“In fact, NAHCON accommodated them to wait for him to report to work, which they did. And when he came, they left together. No one entered any office at all. They waited outside,” Usara added.
The investigation follows comments made in July by NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi, that the N90 billion fund approved by President Bola Tinubu for the 2024 Hajj was used to subsidize pilgrims’ fares. That same month, Arabi was also invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of a separate probe into the utilization of the approved funds.
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