Sunday, August 11, 2024 - The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that it is currently investigating the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in connection with the N90 billion Hajj subsidy.
According to TheCable, ICPC spokesperson Demola 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.
Bakare clarified that contrary to some media reports, the ICPC did
not shut down NAHCON’s offices. He emphasized that the commission is acting
within the law, stating 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, who stated 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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