EFCC Holds Hajj Commission Bigwigs—Money Questions, No Answers Yet
By: Oluwaseun Lawal
It’s another day in Abuja. The city’s always buzzing, but this time, the buzz is about something different. Something a bit heavier. Two top officials from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) are sitting in EFCC custody. Not at home. Not at their desks. In custody. Why? Alleged fraud. The kind that makes headlines and gets people whispering in corridors.
Nobody’s saying much. Not officially, anyway. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is keeping things close to the chest. You know how they do. But a few sources—people who know, but don’t want their names out there—let it slip. The officials are being held. They’re not going anywhere soon. The reason? Money. Or, more accurately, money that’s gone missing. Money that was supposed to help with the 2025 Hajj exercise. Money that, apparently, didn’t end up where it was meant to.
How much money? That’s the million-naira question. The EFCC isn’t saying. Not yet. Maybe they don’t want to spook anyone. Maybe they’re still counting. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s a lot more than anyone wants to admit. One EFCC insider said, “They are with us. We asked them to return the money they took, but they have yet to do so. That is why they remain in our custody.” Simple. Direct. No sugarcoating.
Meanwhile, over at NAHCON, things are tense. You can feel it. The phones are ringing. People are talking in low voices. The Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Usara, put out a statement. She signed it for the Chairman and CEO, Prof. Abdullahi Usman. The message? NAHCON is all about accountability. Due process. They’re not hiding anything. Or anyone.
But if you read between the lines, you see it. They didn’t confirm the arrests. Didn’t deny them either. Just said they’re working with the authorities. That they believe in the rule of law. That no one is above the rules. “The commission would not shield any staff or process found wanting,” the statement said. Sounds good on paper. But people are still asking questions.
Fatima Usara also had a word for the public. And the media. She said, basically, don’t jump to conclusions. Don’t start pointing fingers. Let the process play out. “We are confident that whatever the truth is, it will emerge through the appropriate channels,” she said. Maybe she’s right. Maybe not. But for now, the story is still unfolding.
And it’s not the first time NAHCON has been in the spotlight. Not even close. Just last year, in August 2024, the EFCC invited the former NAHCON Chairman, Jalal Arabi, over another money issue. That time, it was about N90 billion. Yes, billion. Money the government released to subsidize the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. People said it was mismanaged. Or worse, diverted. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) even got involved. They arrested some top officials too. It was a mess.
President Bola Tinubu eventually stepped in. He sacked Arabi in October 2024. Brought in Prof. Usman to clean things up. Or at least, that’s what everyone hoped. But now, here we are again. Another Hajj. Another scandal. Another round of questions about where the money went.
The EFCC isn’t talking to the press. Not yet. Dele Oyewale, their spokesperson, didn’t pick up calls. Maybe he’s busy. Maybe he’s waiting for the dust to settle. Or maybe, he just doesn’t have anything new to say.
Back at NAHCON, they’re trying to focus on the future. On post-Hajj evaluations. On fixing the problems. On making sure next year is better. But it’s hard to do that when your top people are sitting in EFCC custody, and everyone’s watching to see what happens next.
So, that’s where things stand. Two officials, detained. Money missing. Questions everywhere. And a whole lot of people waiting for answers. In Nigeria, stories like this don’t just go away. They linger. They grow. And sometimes, they change everything. For now, all anyone can do is wait. And watch. And hope the truth comes out, sooner rather than later.