President Bola Tinubu has sacked Jalal Arabi as the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and appointed Professor Abdullahi Usman as his replacement.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the development in a statement on Monday.
Usman’s appointment comes as Arabi is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly mismanaging Hajj subsidies to the tune of N90bn.
The EFCC had detained Arabi and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, over illegal withdrawal and alleged mismanagement of the N90bn 2024 Hajj intervention fund.
A total of SR314,098 was recovered from Arabi and other ranking officials.
The Presidency described Usman as “a renowned scholar with qualifications from two Islamic centres of excellence – the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan.” He is also well-grounded in Hajj operations, having served as the Chairman of Kano State Pilgrims Board.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate. Ngelale said the President expects the new Chairman of NAHCON to “discharge his duties with integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation.”