The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched a surprise raid on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. The operatives arrived at 11 a.m. with a valid warrant of arrest and left with four staff members, including spokesperson Fatimah Usara. Sources close to The Guardian revealed that the arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation into the misappropriation of funds.
This development comes on the heels of a similar raid by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged mismanagement of the N90 billion intervention fund for the 2024 Hajj. The ICPC had earlier raided NAHCON headquarters, shutting down official activities in key offices, including the CEO’s office, finance, and procurement departments.
The anti-graft agency went away with the commission’s director of procurement for further investigation. NAHCON had clarified allegations of poor management of services during the 2024 Hajj exercise, providing records of how the federal government intervention was allocated. However, the EFCC’s latest raid suggests that there may be more to the story. EFCC Spokesperson Dele Oyewale promised to provide more details on the arrest and investigation. The commission’s move is seen as a step towards tackling corruption and ensuring accountability in the management of public funds.
Source: https://guardian.ng/
