The Government Chairman of the Nationwide Hajj Fee of Nigeria, Jalal Arabi, and the fee’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, are at the moment within the custody of the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee over the alleged mismanagement of the N90bn 2024 Hajj subsidy, The PUNCH learnt on Wednesday.
In a doc sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday, the anti-graft company mentioned, “A complete of
SR314,098 was recovered,” from the NAHCON chairman and different rating officers.
The EFCC mentioned its investigation revealed that from the N90bn Hajj subsidy, Arabi, fraudulently overpaid himself and others the required operational value.
Additionally in keeping with the doc, the accredited 2024 Hajj operational value for the Chairman/CEO
Commissioners, Secretary and Administrators/Chief of Workers within the 2024 funds are stipulated as $4,250, $12,750, $3,825 and $15,300, respectively.
The EFCC, nevertheless, alleged that: “The chairman fraudulently overpaid himself, the commissioners, secretary and administrators for the 2024 hajj operational value.
“The chairman was entitled to SR15,929 however he obtained SR50,000; three commissioners who have been meant to get SR 15,929 every obtained SR 40,000 every. The secretary obtained SR 30,000 as an alternative of SR14,336. Administrators/Chief of Workers obtained SR 30,000 as an alternative of the SR2,550 they have been entitled to. The entire of
SR314,098 have been recovered from all of them.”
The anti-graft company had first grilled Arabi for hours on July 29 and launched him on bail.
Additionally, final week Wednesday, some high officers of the Hajj fee have been arrested by the Unbiased Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee over alleged mismanagement or diversion of the N90bn subsidy.
On Wednesday, a supply within the EFCC informed our correspondent that the NAHCON Chairman was taken in once more on Wednesday for questioning and was detained.
“The Secretary and Chairman of the fee are in our custody and are dealing with severe interrogations on the N90bn subsidy, amongst different allegations,” the supply mentioned on situation of anonymity as a result of they may not communicate formally.
A doc completely sighted by our correspondent revealed that SR 8,614,175.27 money withdrawal out of the N90bn launched by the Federal Authorities to the fee is but to be accounted for by NAHCON.
The doc partly learn, “The sum of N90bn was launched by the Federal Authorities of Nigeria to the Nationwide Hajj Fee to subsidise the 2024 Hajj Operations by the Federal Authorities of Nigeria.
“The entire sum of N1, 764,705,937.62 was deducted by the Central Financial institution of Nigeria as financial institution expenses.
“The sum of N88, 235,294,063.72 was subsequently transformed into United States {dollars} on the charge 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 transformed to Saudi Riyal on the charge of N3,748, which amounted to the sum of SR 233,527,252.47.
“That the opening steadiness of the IBAN-E observe for 2024 Hajj actions was SR 19,813,810.89 and has an influx of SR 485,000,000.00 from NAHCON with a closing steadiness of SR 78,985,266.03.
“That the closing steadiness is inclusive of the SR20,637,908.23 refunded from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Saudi Arabia.
“That the overall sum of SR 22, 815,367.74 was withdrawn money from the British SAAB account by one Abubakar Muhammed Lamin in Saudi Arabia in the course of the 2024 Hajj operation.
“The anticipated money cost for providers and allowances to workers and stakeholders is SR 14,905,910.47.
“That the overall sum of SR 8,614,175.27 money withdrawal is but to be accounted for by NAHCON.”
In the meantime, an investigation into the fee’s actions since 2022 resulted within the restoration of estacodes paid to workers who didn’t undertake research excursions and funds made to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd for providers that weren’t rendered.
The doc said, “Whereas investigation commenced on the legal facet which has led to the restoration of Estacodes paid to workers, who didn’t journey to Indonesia for research tour, additionally recoveries have been made for providers 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 recuperate of the sum SR20, 637,908.23 from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Saudi Arabia.”
The doc said that every one supporting paperwork for cost of the consultancy providers, together with the Government Chairman’s approval, have been fraudulently backdated to January 23, 2024, to allow the cost of the sum of SAR 780, 019, 59 to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd on April 14, 2024.
“The primary suspect, Jalal Arabi, confessed that the marketing consultant didn’t render any providers.
“A gathering of the Expanded Transitional Exco was held on twenty fifth January 2024 with seven members and 18 workers in attendance however the cost of the consultancy providers to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd was not mentioned.
“The fee’s secretary slotted the approval for the cost of the 7.5% consultancy to Shuraka’a al-Khair Group Ltd within the minutes of the Expanded Transitional Exco assembly as merchandise 10 underneath AOB to allow the perfection of the documentation to steal the funds.
“That the mentioned sum of SR1,026,000.00, equal to about N430,920,000 Million, was additionally recovered from one Japanese Gulf Firm Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”