The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained two top officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over allegations of massive financial fraud linked to the conduct of the 2025 Hajj.
Those in custody are the Commissioner of Policy, Personnel and Finance, Aliu Abdulrazak, and the Director of Finance and Accounts, Aminu Y. Muhammed.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the duo honoured an invitation to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 11 a.m. on Monday but were not released as of late Monday night.
The arrests come amid growing allegations of large-scale mismanagement of Hajj funds under the leadership of NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, widely known as “Pakistan.”
A recent review meeting by the Forum of Chief Executives of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions described the 2025 Hajj exercise as “a total failure,” raising 16 issues, seven of which centred on corruption and financial infractions.
Investigations by the EFCC are said to be targeting alleged financial misconduct running into more than ₦50 billion. Professor Usman is accused of authorising extra-budgetary spending far above presidential approval, including ₦25 billion allegedly squandered on Masha’ir tents, ₦1.6 billion on allowances for spouses, and ₦7.9 billion on contingency houses in Makkah.
Insiders disclosed that Abdulrazak and Muhammed are also being probed for their role in earlier cases of alleged diversion of funds during the tenure of former chairman, Ahmad Jalal Arabi.
This is not the first time NAHCON’s leadership has come under EFCC scrutiny. Earlier this month, the agency interrogated other senior officials, including Deputy Director of Accounts and Special Adviser to the Chairman, Abdulmalik Diggi; Deputy Director in the Chairman’s Office, Sirajo Usman Salisu; and the commission’s Legal Adviser, Barrister Nura Danladi.
Similarly, two former chairmen, Ahmad Jalal Arabi and Zikirullah Kunle Hassan, were earlier granted bail after facing EFCC investigations. The immediate past Commissioner of Policy, Personnel and Finance, Nura Yakasai, was also quizzed and released on bail.
Efforts to reach Abdulrazak and Muhammed proved abortive on Monday night as their phones remained switched off. However, a senior NAHCON official confirmed their detention, saying, “As I am talking to you now, they are still with the EFCC.”
Reactions have since trailed the development. Some staff and stakeholders of the Hajj Commission welcomed the EFCC’s move, urging President Bola Tinubu to suspend the detained officials and overhaul NAHCON’s leadership.
“Mr President should urgently disband the current leadership and appoint a sole administrator with proven Hajj management experience to restore order and transparency,” one insider told PLATFORM TIMES.
Stakeholders also demanded a thorough probe to ensure recovery of allegedly misappropriated funds and prosecution of indicted officials.
The EFCC has yet to issue an official statement on the latest arrests.
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