ICPC Nabs NAHCON Officials Over N90bn Hajj Subsidy Scam

ICPC Launches Probe into NAHCON’s N90 Billion Hajj Subsidy Saga.

In a dramatic turn of events, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that it is investigating the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over the controversial N90 billion Hajj subsidy. The probe has already led to the detention of several NAHCON officials, who allegedly snubbed the anti-graft agency’s invitations.

ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare revealed that the officials were taken into custody on Wednesday, but clarified that the commission did not shut down NAHCON’s offices as reported by some media outlets. Bakare emphasized that the ICPC is operating within the law and that the detained officials are cooperating with the investigation.

“We paid them a friendly visit,” Bakare said, “since they refused to honor our invitation. We didn’t shut down the commission; we operate within the confines of the law.”

However, NAHCON spokesperson Fatimah Usara downplayed the situation, stating that it’s standard procedure for the commission’s operations to be scrutinized after each Hajj season. Usara revealed that the Head of Procurement was the specific official invited by the ICPC, but failed to report, prompting the agency to visit NAHCON’s office.

The investigation comes on the heels of NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi’s comments in July, where he stated that the N90 billion fund approved by President Bola Tinubu 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.