The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and detained senior officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over allegations of mismanagement and diversion of funds during the 2025 Hajj operations.
Top Officials in Custody
Those detained include:
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Aliu Abdulrazak, Commissioner of Policy, Personnel and Finance (PPMF)
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Aminu Muhammed, Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA)
Both officials reportedly honoured an EFCC invitation at the agency’s headquarters around 11 a.m. on Monday but were still in custody as of late that night.
Sources revealed that Abdulrazak and Muhammed are also being investigated for alleged involvement in an earlier fund diversion case linked to former NAHCON chairman, Ahmad Jalal Arabi.
Allegations of Mismanagement
The probe comes amid mounting accusations of massive financial irregularities during the 2025 Hajj, led by then-chairman Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman (popularly known as Professor Pakistan).
According to reports:
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₦25 billion was allegedly squandered on Masha’ir tents
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₦1.6 billion spent on spouses of officials and stakeholders
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₦7.9 billion spent on contingency houses in Makkah
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An extra-budgetary expenditure of over ₦25 billion allegedly diverted to cover allowances and expenses
The Forum of Chief Executives of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies/Commissions had earlier described the 2025 Hajj under NAHCON’s supervision as a “total failure.”
Earlier Interrogations
This month, the EFCC also questioned other top NAHCON officials, including:
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Abdulmalik Diggi, Deputy Director (Accounts) and Special Adviser (General Services)
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Sirajo Usman Salisu, Deputy Director in the Chairman’s Office
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Barr. Nura Danladi, Legal Adviser to the Commission
Investigators reportedly demanded refunds from the detained officials. A source close to the matter said:
“We are not concerned whether they are making an attempt to refund it or not. Our own is that they must vomit what they ate illegitimately.”
NAHCON Responds
In a statement signed by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director of Information and Publication, NAHCON reaffirmed its commitment to accountability and cooperation with anti-graft agencies.
“As a responsible organisation, the Commission maintains an open and ongoing relationship with all relevant government agencies, including anti-corruption and regulatory bodies. The Commission would not shield any staff or process found wanting,” the statement read.
NAHCON also urged the public and media to avoid speculation and allow due process to take its course, stressing that no individual should be subjected to “indignity through the media” without conclusive findings.
Silence from EFCC
Efforts to get official comments from EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale proved abortive as he neither answered calls nor responded to text messages at the time of filing this report.
