The recently dismissed Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi, along with the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, has been released on bail after spending five days in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Both officials were detained over allegations of misappropriating the ₦90 billion 2024 Hajj intervention fund provided by the federal government.
Reports indicate that Arabi and Kontagora initially struggled to meet their bail conditions, which prolonged their stay in EFCC custody. However, they were released on Monday after finally meeting the requirements. The EFCC continues to investigate the matter, with no additional recoveries reported beyond the initial 314,098 Saudi Riyals.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially dismissed Jalal Arabi from his position as Chairman of NAHCON and appointed Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the new Executive Chairman. This appointment is pending confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, with the expectation that Usman will fulfill his duties with integrity and transparency.