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, alongside the Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA), Aminu Y. Muhammed, over alleged financial misconduct in the 2025 Hajj operations.
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 follows rising 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 reportedly connect Abdulrazak and Muhammed to a previous case of alleged fund diversion dating back to the tenure of former NAHCON chairman, Ahmad Jalal Arabi.
Just last month, the EFCC interrogated several other top officials of the commission, including:
- Abdulmalik Diggi (Deputy Director, Accounts / Special Adviser to the Chairman)
- Sirajo Usman Salisu (Deputy Director, Chairman’s Office)
- Barrister Nura Danladi (Legal Adviser)
Findings indicate that the anti-graft agency 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 comments proved abortive as their phones remained switched off. However, a senior NAHCON official confirmed to Sahara Reporters that the two were still in EFCC custody as of Monday night.
Some stakeholders and commission staff have since called for their immediate suspension to ensure transparency in the ongoing probe.
One concerned stakeholder urged President Bola Tinubu to step in, saying:
“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.”
