Crime
Fraud: EFCC Detains NAHCON’s Directors, Retrieves SR314,098
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi, along with the commission’s Secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, over allegations of mismanaging the N90 billion Hajj subsidy for 2024.
Documents obtained by our correspondent indicate that the EFCC recovered a sum of SR314,098 from Arabi and other senior officials of the commission during its investigation.
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The anti-graft agency claimed that the chairman and several officials fraudulently inflated their operational costs beyond what was stipulated in the approved 2024 budget.
According to the EFCC, the approved budget outlined the operational costs for the Chairman/CEO, commissioners, secretary, and directors/chief of staff at $4,250, $12,750, $3,825, and $15,300, respectively.
However, the EFCC alleged that the chairman was entitled to SR15,929 but fraudulently obtained SR50,000.
Similarly, three commissioners, who were supposed to receive SR15,929 each, instead pocketed SR40,000 each.
The Secretary received SR30,000 instead of the authorized SR14,336, while directors/chief of staff received SR30,000 instead of the SR2,550 they were entitled to.
The total sum of SR314,098 was recovered from all involved.
Arabi was initially questioned by the EFCC on July 29 before being released on bail. Additionally, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arrested several high-ranking NAHCON officials last Wednesday over the alleged diversion of the N90 billion subsidy.
A source within the EFCC disclosed on Wednesday that the NAHCON Chairman was brought in again for questioning and has been detained.
“The Secretary and Chairman of the commission are currently in our custody and are undergoing extensive interrogation regarding the N90 billion subsidy, among other allegations,” the source disclosed, requesting anonymity due to the inability to speak officially.
A document exclusively reviewed, revealed that SR8,614,175.27, withdrawn in cash from the N90 billion released by the Federal Government to the commission, remains unaccounted for by NAHCON.
The document reads in part, “The sum of N90bn was released by the Federal Government of Nigeria to the National Hajj Commission to subsidise the 2024 Hajj Operations by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The total sum of N1, 764,705,937.62 was deducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria as bank charges.
“The sum of N88, 235,294,063.72 was subsequently converted into United States dollars at the rate of N1,416.13, which amounted to USD 62,307,164.48 and thereafter transferred into NAHCON British SAAB Account in Saudi Arabia.
“The sum of USD 62,307,164.48 was converted to Saudi Riyal at the rate of N3,748, which amounted to the sum of SR 233,527,252.47.
“That the opening balance of the IBAN-E track for 2024 Hajj activities was SR 19,813,810.89 and has an inflow of SR 485,000,000.00 from NAHCON with a closing balance of SR 78,985,266.03.
“That the closing balance is inclusive of the SR20,637,908.23 refunded from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Saudi Arabia.
“That the total sum of SR 22, 815,367.74 was withdrawn cash from the British SAAB account by one Abubakar Muhammed Lamin in Saudi Arabia during the 2024 Hajj operation.
“The expected cash payment for services and allowances to staff and stakeholders is SR 14,905,910.47. That the total sum of SR 8,614,175.27 cash withdrawal is yet to be accounted for by NAHCON.”
Additionally, investigations into the commission’s activities since 2022 uncovered the recovery of estacodes given to staff for study tours they did not attend, along with payments made to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd for services that were never provided.
“While investigation commenced on the criminal aspect which has led to the recovery of Estacodes paid to staff, who did not travel to Indonesia for study tour, also recoveries were made for services not rendered of the sum of SR 1,026,000.00 and SR 1,780,019.99, being purported 7.5% of consultancy paid to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd for debt recover of the sum SR20, 637,908.23 from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Saudi Arabia.”
The document revealed that all supporting paperwork for the consultancy services payment, including the Executive Chairman’s approval, was fraudulently backdated to January 23, 2024, to facilitate a payment of SAR 780,019.59 to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd on April 14, 2024.
“Jalal Arabi, the primary suspect, admitted that the consultant did not provide any services,” the document stated.
Additionally, a meeting of the Expanded Transitional Exco was conducted on January 25, 2024, with seven members and 18 staff present, yet the payment to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd was not addressed during the meeting.
The document added “The commission’s secretary slotted the approval for the payment of the 7.5% consultancy to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd in the minutes of the Expanded Transitional Exco meeting as item 10 under AOB to enable the perfection of the documentation to steal the funds.
“That the said sum of SR1,026,000.00, equivalent to about N430,920,000 Million, was also recovered from one Eastern Gulf Company Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Police Rescue Three Kidnap Victims in Taraba After Sustained Pressure
The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed the rescue of three kidnapped victims in Taraba State following sustained pressure mounted by its rescue teams.
The victims were identified as Otuwe Torhumba, 37; Kenneth Nyiutse, 35; and Michael Emmanuel, 27.
The Force made the disclosure on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in its 24-hour operational update covering security operations recorded across the country on October 2.
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According to the Police, “Due to sustained pressure by Police rescue teams, three of five kidnapped victims — Otuwe Torhumba (37), Kenneth Nyiutse (35) and Michael Emmanuel (27) — were rescued unharmed and reunited with their families.”
The Police said the three victims were rescued unharmed and subsequently reunited with their families.
The Force did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the abduction or the whereabouts of the remaining two victims in the operational summary.
The case is currently being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Jalingo.
The rescue was among several operational successes recorded by the Nigeria Police Force during the reporting period.
The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed the rescue of an 86-year-old man and his son after they were allegedly detained by suspected members of the Axe Men confraternity in Cross River State.
The victims, identified as Dominic Columbus Udoh, 86, and his son, Emmanuel Columbus Udoh, 40, were rescued by Police operatives on Friday, October 2, 2026.
The Police made the disclosure on Saturday, October 3, in its 24-hour operational update detailing security successes recorded across the country.
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According to the Force, Police operatives were mobilised to the scene after receiving information that suspected Axe Men confraternity cultists had unlawfully detained the two men.
The Police said the suspected cultists fled from the scene when operatives arrived.
The Force stated that officers, with assistance from neighbours, “forced open the locked apartment,” where the two victims were found.
According to the Police, both victims had sustained facial and chest injuries.
They were subsequently rescued and conveyed to the Police Hospital for medical treatment.
The Police said the incident is currently being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Calabar.
The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed that personnel of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force (JTF) repelled an ambush by suspected bandits along the Amaafu-Abaji Road in Benue State.
The incident occurred on Friday, October 2, 2026, during a routine patrol by the security personnel along the road.
The Police made the disclosure on Saturday, in its 24-hour operational update detailing security successes recorded across different states.
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According to the Police, “Personnel of Operation Zenda JTF on routine patrol along Amaafu-Abaji Road successfully repelled an ambush by bandits, neutralizing one suspect and recovering his locally fabricated gun.”
The Police added that other members of the group fled into the surrounding bushes following the encounter.
It further stated that “No Police casualty was recorded” during the operation.
The recovered firearm was subsequently taken as part of the evidence from the operation as investigations continue.
The Police said the case has been placed under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Makurdi.
The Police Force continues to urge members of the public to provide security agencies with timely and useful information that can assist ongoing operations against criminal elements.
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