₦airaland Forum

*12 CRIMES OF HAJJ COMMISSION*

On October 19th 2018, the Senate Ad- Hoc Committee on Accommodation, Logistics, Feeding, Onshore and Offshore of the Nigeria Pilgrims, indicted the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) for massive frauds in Hajj operation and consequently recommended sanctioning of the Commission by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant agencies for alleged violation of relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and even some provisions of NAHCON establishment Act.

In the indictment report, which was carried by several newspapers in Nigeria, the Senate accused NAHCON of committing at least, 12 crimes, which include the following:

1. Breach of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

*2. Inflation of cost of pilgrimage to the tune of N400,000 per pilgrim:* According to the report, the N1.4 million charged for hajj fare in the year in question was inflated to the tune of about N400,000.00 on each pilgrim)

*3. Violation of Public Procurement Act, 2007:* According to the committee, NAHCOM goes about awarding procurement contracts without having appropriate officers to do so, thereby giving out bogus contracts to friends and cronies

*4. Breach of NAHCON establishment Act:* Spending beyond limit provided by the Act.

*5. Infringement on Federal Government Financial Rule and Regulation:* The committee alleged that annually, NAHCON and the State Pilgrims Welfare Board (SPWB) sponsor outrageous number of officials to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from revenue generated from pilgrims and funds from state governments. The report also stated: “That the National and state officials ‘roles of Medicals, Media, Ulamas and Guides often overlap with one another. “That in many cases, relatives and cronies of NAHCON and SPWBs ‘ Executives were sponsored in the name of officials just to enable them perform the Hajj with fees paid by ordinary Nigerians

*6. Over bloated charges that escalated cost of pilgrimage:* The committee said, this is done “through spurious charges without regards to the Second Schedule of the Utilities and Charge Commission.

*7. Short-changing and extorting Nigerian pilgrims* : The committee said, this is done “through spurious charges without regards to the Second Schedule of the Utilities and Charge Commission.

*8. Short-changing intending air carriers:* The committee said, this is done “through spurious charges without regards to the Second Schedule of the Utilities and Charge Commission.

9 *. Short-changing and extorting service providers:* The committee said, this is done “through spurious charges without regards to the Second Schedule of the Utilities and Charge Commission.

*10. Revenues realized by the commission not paid to government:* According to the committee, the so-called revenues realized by the commission were not paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, contrary to Section 80(1) of the 1999 Constitution.) This action by the commission also negates the principle of Treasury Single Account because the said revenue from 2014 to 2017 was kept in the commission’s account without recourse to TSA the committee said.

*11. Spending beyond the approval threshold of the commission:* Just as in the same manner, the commission generates its revenues with total disregard to extant Acts, so it expends them without following the provisions of the Constitution. Also, “NAHCON often goes on spending spree from the said generated revenue, quite beyond the approval threshold of the Accounting Officer, which is a breach of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s circular with reference number SGF/OP/S.3/XI/894, dated 14th January, 2016.” The committee said.

12. * Conflict of Interest in all the offshore transactions engaged by NAHCON:* The committee alleged that NAHCON officials are reluctant to pursue matters that affects general welfare of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia as clearly evidence in their failure to pursue the payment of compensation of some families of victims of the 2015 crane and stampede tragedies in Saudi Arabia” due to conflict of interest.

*CONCLUSSION*
The senate committee concluded that, “the monumental fraud associated with the operations of hajj between 2015 and 2018 should be investigated fully by EFCC.

NOTE: The above indictment against NAHCON wasn’t made by IG Wala, but the Nigerian Senate, through evidences provided by IG Wala and subsequent investigation by the senate. So, even if IG Wala is removed from the equation through politically influenced court judgement, the corruption allegation against NAHCON is still very valid and it is only a matter of time before the NAHCON chairman, Alhaji Muktar Abdullahi is brought to book.

*SOURCES* :
https://dailytimes.ng/senate-bemoans-massive-fraud-hajj-operation-asks-efcc-probe-nahcon/
https://punchng.com/senate-panel-indicts-nahcon-in-hajj-extortion-fee-hike-probe/
https://www.thecable.ng/senate-committee-accuses-hajj-commission-of-extorting-pilgrims

*#RememberIGWala*

Hajj

Its the same allegations in most govt agencies. Who is really clean in Nigeria

aolawale025:
Its the same allegations in all agencies

This is different.