Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are currently interrogating the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Pakistan, over alleged multi-billion naira fraud.
Sources within the EFCC confirmed that Mr Pakistan arrived at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja around 12 p.m. on Tuesday, accompanied by his personal lawyer, Kazeem Atetebi. As of the time of filing this report, he was still being grilled by investigators.
The NAHCON boss is under investigation for alleged financial misconduct running into several billions of naira. Among the issues reportedly under probe are the alleged diversion of ₦25 billion for Masha’ir extra bed spaces, ₦1.6 billion purportedly spent on staff spouses, and another ₦8 billion on Makkah contingency bed spaces.
Other allegations include extra-budgetary spending exceeding 300 per cent of the approved budget, ₦25 billion allegedly expended on officials, staff, and board members, ₦1.4 billion as committee allowances, and the mismanagement of Madinah bed spaces — inflated from 11,000 to 18,000 for 41,000 pilgrims.
According to documents seen by this newspaper, Mr Pakistan was initially scheduled to appear before the EFCC on September 17, 2025, but requested a postponement to enable him travel to Saudi Arabia. The session was rescheduled for October 2, 2025, which he again failed to attend despite returning to the country.
Security sources disclosed that the NAHCON chairman met with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa on October 6, 2025, during which the Vice President directed him to honour the EFCC’s invitation. However, Mr Pakistan allegedly attended an International Forum of Saudi Graduates in Abuja instead, in defiance of the directive.
Top NAHCON officials have also been questioned by the anti-graft agency, including the Commission’s Secretary, Dr Mustapha Muhammad Ali, who was grilled and released on bail in mid-September. Others include Aliu Abdulrazak, Commissioner for Policy, Personnel and Finance (PPMF); Prof. Abubakar A. Yagawal, Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS); and several directors, deputy and assistant directors, and special advisers.
EFCC sources alleged that Mr Pakistan had been evading previous invitations. “His associates reached out, pleading for the invitation to be withdrawn,” said one official. “But the current EFCC leadership under Mr Ola Olukoyede is firm. Besides, Islam abhors corruption, especially in matters concerning Hajj.”
Some NAHCON staff and board members expressed support for the EFCC’s investigation, describing it as “a long-overdue step toward restoring integrity to the Commission.”
“We are happy justice is about to be served after the unprecedented mismanagement of public funds,” one senior official said, urging President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima to suspend the NAHCON chairman and secretary to ensure an impartial investigation.
