Breaking: EFCC Arrests NAHCON Finance Chiefs In Sh*cking 2025 Hajj Probe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly detained the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s (NAHCON) Commissioner for Policy, Personnel, and Finance (PPMF), Aliu Abdulrazak, along with the Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA), Aminu Y. Muhammed.

According to Sahara Reporters, both officials honoured an EFCC invitation at its headquarters around 11 a.m. on Monday but remained in custody late into the night.

Their detention comes amid mounting allegations of mismanagement during the 2025 Hajj exercise, which the Forum of Chief Executives of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards recently described as a “total failure” under NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman.

Investigations also link Abdulrazak and Muhammed to an earlier case of alleged fund diversion dating back to the tenure of former chairman Ahmad Jalal Arabi.

Last month, the EFCC interrogated several other senior NAHCON officials, including Abdulmalik Diggi (Deputy Director, Accounts/Special Adviser to the Chairman), Sirajo Usman Salisu (Deputy Director, Chairman’s Office), and Barrister Nura Danladi (Legal Adviser).

Findings indicate that the EFCC is probing alleged financial misconduct involving over ₦50 billion under Professor Usman’s leadership. He is accused of authorising extra-budgetary spending and diverting funds, including:

• ₦25 billion on Masha’ir tents

• ₦1.6 billion on spouses

• ₦7.9 billion on contingency houses in Makkah

• An additional ₦25 billion on NAHCON officials, stakeholders, and their families

Efforts to reach Abdulrazak and Muhammed for comment were unsuccessful, as their phones were switched off. However, a senior NAHCON official confirmed to Sahara Reporters that the pair were still in EFCC custody as of Monday night.

Some stakeholders and staff of the commission have since called for their immediate suspension to ensure transparency.

One stakeholder urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene:
“President Tinubu should act quickly by disbanding the current NAHCON leadership and appointing a sole administrator with Hajj operational and administrative experience to put the commission back in order.”