N90bn Hajj Subsidy: ICPC Arrests NAHCON Officials
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed the arrest of some officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over the N90 billion Hajj subsidy.
ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, stated:
“We are investigating officials of the National Hajj Commission because they either failed or refused to honour the invitation. We, therefore, paid them a friendly visit… We didn’t shut down the commission as reported by some journalists. ICPC operates within the confines of the law.”
Bakare added that the arrested officials were released on bail and would assist the investigation process until concluded.
NAHCON’s spokesperson, Fatimah Usara in a statement said:
“Some of the commission’s relevant staff had been making presentations to the ICPC when demanded… And this is a thing that the commission considers normal because it happens after every hajj until any doubt is cleared. It’s nothing new.”
Usara explained that the Head of Procurement had been invited by the ICPC but failed to honour it, leading to his arrest:
“The Head of Procurement had an invitation which he didn’t honour. So, two days ago, on Wednesday precisely, the ICPC sent the relevant officers to him, him alone… In fact, NAHCON accommodated them to wait for him to report to work, which they did. And when he came, they left together. No one entered any office at all. They waited outside.”
