Former Hajj commission chairman Jalal Arabi released from EFCC custody on bail

NAHCON chairman Jalal Arabi

The former chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Jalal Arabi and the commission’s secretary Abdullahi Kontagora have been released on bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A source familiar with the matter told PUNCH on Wednesday that they were released on Monday after meeting bail conditions.

The duo was detained over alleged illegal withdrawal and the mismanagement of the N90 billion 2024 Hajj intervention fund. The EFCC recovered 314,098 Saudi Riyal from them.

The source said, “The former Hajj Commission chairman and the secretary have been released, and the investigation is still ongoing. They were released on Monday after meeting their bail conditions. Nothing yet on the matter. No other recoveries except for the earlier ones.”

The newspaper said it could not reach EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale for comments.

President Bola Tinubu sacked Arabi on August 19 and appointed Prof Abdullahi Usman as his replacement.