The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday grilled the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Jalal Arabi for hours, over alleged mismanagement of 2024 Hajj funds.
Arabi arrived at the office of the anti-graft agency by 10:00am to answer questions from its investigators on how the commission spent N90billion subsidy provided for 2024 exercise.
News360 Nigeria learnt that there were series of petitions against the chairman and his management team over fund mismanagement in the commission , especially the 2024 hajj exercise.
A source within the commission said that Arabi was in the commission to provide detailed explanations on how NAHCON shared the fund allocated to it for the pilgrims.
“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.
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