The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released Jalal Arabi, the recently dismissed chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), along with the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, on bail. The pair had been detained for five days over allegations of illegal withdrawals and the mismanagement of the N90bn 2024 Hajj intervention fund. A source confirmed that Arabi and Kontagora were released on Monday after meeting their bail conditions, though the investigation continues with no further recoveries beyond the initial 314,098 Saudi Riyal.
The EFCC’s probe, which led to their detention, uncovered that Arabi and others allegedly overpaid themselves from the Hajj subsidy fund. In addition to the Saudi Riyal recovered, the investigation revealed questionable financial activities, including backdated payments and unrendered services. Despite these findings, Arabi was dismissed from his position by President Bola Tinubu on August 19, replaced by Professor Abdullahi Usman. The EFCC’s investigation remains active, focusing on ensuring accountability for the unaccounted funds.
