Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has appointed a new chairman to lead the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), effectively removing Jalal Arabi from the post he assumed last October.
The move comes as Mr Arabi faces investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged mismanagement of Hajj subsidies totalling £73m.
Professor Abdullahi Usman, described as a “renowned scholar” with experience in Hajj operations, has been named as the new NAHCON chief, pending Senate confirmation.
The presidency said Mr Tinubu expects the incoming chairman to “discharge his duties with integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation”.
Mr Arabi and NAHCON’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, were detained by the EFCC on 16 August in connection with the alleged mismanagement of the 2024 Hajj intervention fund.
The anti-graft agency claims to have recovered 314,098 Saudi riyals (£67,000) from Mr Arabi and other senior officials.
Investigators allege that Mr Arabi fraudulently overpaid himself and others from the Hajj subsidy, exceeding necessary operational costs.
The presidency praised Prof Usman’s qualifications from the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, as well as his previous role as chairman of Kano State Pilgrims Board.
This appointment marks a significant shake-up in the management of Nigeria’s Hajj affairs, as the country grapples with allegations of financial impropriety in its pilgrimage operations.
