The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested several officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over the N90 billion Hajj subsidy approved by President Bola Tinubu.
ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare confirmed that the officials were taken into custody for allegedly refusing to respond to an invitation from the anti-graft agency. However, Bakare clarified that the ICPC did not shut down NAHCON’s offices, contrary to some media reports.
“We are investigating officials of the National Hajj Commission because they either failed or refused to honour our invitation. We, therefore, paid them a friendly visit,” Bakare said.
NAHCON spokesperson Fatimah Usara 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.”
The investigation follows comments made by NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi in July, stating that the N90 billion fund was used to subsidize pilgrims’ fares. 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.
