The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released Jalal Arabi, the sacked Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, on bail after detaining them for five days. The two were held over allegations of illegal withdrawal and mismanagement of the N90 billion 2024 Hajj intervention fund.
A source familiar with the investigation confirmed that both Arabi and Kontagora were released on Monday after meeting their bail conditions. The investigation is ongoing, with no new recoveries reported beyond the initial 314,098 Saudi Riyal seized during the probe.
The EFCC had earlier revealed that its investigation into the N90 billion Hajj subsidy uncovered fraudulent overpayments made by Arabi and others. Additionally, the probe led to the recovery of estacodes paid to staff who did not undertake study tours and payments to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd for services that were not rendered.
Documents related to these payments were allegedly backdated to enable the disbursement of SAR 780,019.59 to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd. Arabi reportedly confessed that the consultant involved did not render any services.
The investigation continues as the EFCC seeks to account for the remaining SR 8,614,175.27 in cash withdrawals by the commission. In the midst of the probe, President Bola Tinubu dismissed Arabi on August 19 and appointed Prof. Abdullahi Usman as his successor.
The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, was unavailable for comment at the time of reporting.
