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EFCC Detains NAHCON Chairman’s Brother Over Alleged N50 Billion Fraud

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Sources within the EFCC revealed that Mr. Usman, nicknamed “ka fi chairman” by colleagues roughly meaning “defacto NAHCON Chairman” spent the night in EFCC custody in Abuja.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Mr. Sirajo Salisu Usman, brother of the Chairman and CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman (also known as Pakistan), over alleged fraud involving billions of naira.

Mr. Sirajo was arrested on Wednesday afternoon by EFCC operatives in Abuja. He had previously been questioned earlier this month alongside other senior officials of the commission.

Sources within the EFCC revealed that Mr. Usman, nicknamed “ka fi chairman” by colleagues roughly meaning “de-facto NAHCON Chairman” spent the night in EFCC custody in Abuja.

A biological brother of Professor Pakistan, Mr. Sirajo currently serves as Deputy Director in the Chairman’s Office at NAHCON.

“The chairman’s brother is still in EFCC detention as of 12 p.m. on Thursday,” a source inside the Hajj commission told SaharaReporters.

Multiple sources said Mr. Sirajo Salisu Usman’s arrest is linked to the EFCC’s ongoing investigation into the alleged loss of over N50 billion in public funds under the leadership of Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman (Pakistan).

Reports indicate that during the 2025 Hajj alone, the commission, under Professor Pakistan, allegedly squandered N25 billion on Masha’ir tents, N1.6 billion on spouses, and N8 billion on Makkah contingency houses, among other expenditures.

On August 19, the EFCC also detained NAHCON’s Commissioner of Policy, Personnel and Finance (PPMF), Aliu Abdulrazak, and the Commissioner of Planning, Research, Statistics, Information, and Library Services (PRSILS), Professor Abubakar A. Yagawal, over alleged fraud.

Earlier, on August 7, other senior officialsincluding Abdulmalik Diggi, Deputy Director (Accounts) and Special Adviser (General Services) to the C/CEO; Barrister Nura Danladi, the commission’s Legal Adviser; and Mr. Sirajo were questioned by the anti-graft agency.

Insiders say the EFCC is also investigating cases of inflated spending by NAHCON officials, stakeholders, and spouses, which reportedly amounts to about N4 billion. SaharaReporters learnt that an internal NAHCON finance department report described the commission’s bookkeeping as reflecting “considerable financial inefficiency.”

Sources allege that Mr. Sirajo has been central to the financial scandals at the commission since his brother’s appointment, accused of granting approvals without the knowledge of the chairman.

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“Mr Sirajo is a powerful force in the commission. This is an open secret. He derives his power from the chairman’s lack of capacity in reading and understanding the English Language,” a top official said.

Another NAHCON official corroborated it, saying that “Mr Sirajo translates and helps treat official memos and other communications for the chairman”.

“That is the advantage he takes in micromanaging everyone in the commission,” the source said.

“Mr Sirajo is the one making comments on all the NAHCON memos. Mr Pakistan only affirms his signature. That is why staff members are urging the EFCC to conduct a forensic investigation of all the approvals granted by Mr Pakistan,” another official said.

A staff member knowledgeable about the case said, “It was Mr Sirajo who singlehandedly secured the 6,500 contingency bed spaces in Makkah that were never used, leading to the loss of N8 billion.

“This is one of the cases EFCC is investigating now. He is at the centre of all the cases being investigated by the EFCC.”

SaharaReporters reports how the commission under Mr Pakistan wasted at least N8 billion on 6,200 “contingency bed spaces” for non-existent pilgrims in Makkah during the 2025 Hajj.

Contrary to NAHCON spokesperson Fatima Usara’s claims that the detention of the official was “a routine operation,” sources stated that the EFCC is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the 2025 Hajj operation, which encompasses alleged misappropriation of public funds, abuse of office, procurement fraud, and outright theft, among other offences.

The sources added that “the anti-corruption agency is investigating all departments in the Hajj commission”.

One of the sources said, “On August 19, for instance, the EFCC questioned NAHCON coordinators of Makkah and Madinah during the 2025 Hajj operation.

“On August 20, the anti-graft agency grilled the E-Tract Team responsible for data entry for Masha’ir contracts, accommodation for Makkah and Madinah, among others.

“On August 21, the EFCC interrogated the desk officers for the Ulama (clerics) team, the media team, and the National Medical Team (NMT). The operatives also quizzed the leadership of the committee that screened service providers.

“On August 25, the EFCC officers grilled the heads of Aviation and Turaddadiyya (responsible for dispatching pilgrims to Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah) committees.”

Stakeholders have demanded a complete overhaul of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), insisting that beyond the removal of Chairman Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman (Pakistan), all misappropriated public funds must be recovered and those responsible prosecuted.

SaharaReporters gathered that the NAHCON Board convened a two-day marathon meeting from Tuesday to Wednesday, during which it reportedly accused Mr. Pakistan of breaching multiple procurement laws, retaining pool officers against directives, and acting as a sole administrator despite stern warnings from Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Vice President Shettima had previously instructed Mr. Pakistan to disengage the pool officers, a directive the chairman has yet to implement. Of the 26 pool staff members in the commission, it was learned that Mr. Pakistan sponsored 25 of them for this year’s Hajj.

Commission staff have threatened to shut down NAHCON if the chairman refuses to release the pool officers. They are also planning to protest against the proposed re-engagement of certain dismissed and retired workers.

One of the dismissed staff members, Mr. Tawfiq Akinwale, was sacked for violating the Electoral Act 2022 and Public Service Rules by contesting the 2023 Oyo State governorship election while still in federal service

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Tinubu’s Projects In The North Are Traceable-Kwankwaso

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The Forum of Federal Government appointees from Kano under Senator Bashir Garba Lado, has strongly challenged opposition Leaders to showcase what they have on stock that they will do better than President Tinubu clear Developmental Projects, rather than negative criticism.

Speaking in a released, the Spokesperson of the Forum of the Federal Government appointees, Dr Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, said, Wednesday that, overtime the opposition leaders of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and others have not clearly spelled out their missions to Government but rather everyday they go one criticizing President Tinubu whose Projects across the Country and the North is specific can be clearly seen.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is executing a massive portfolio of infrastructure and developmental projects across Kano and Northern Nigeria, valued at trillions of Naira, spanning highways, railways, power, and agriculture, which an be touched and seen not mare baseless opposition”, Kwankwaso notes.

In trying to highlight some of the projects, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, who is also the Executive Director Finance Hadejia Jammaare River Basin, fall under the “Renewed Hope” agenda, and in Kano alone there are more 30 of such projects.

Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso believes that the Projects execution and the concern shown by the President on Kano and the entire North are worthy of given him heavy votes across Northern Nigeria that will secure his smooth 2nd Term in office.

He said that with the intervention of the President in Kano and other Northern Nigeria, he will have massive votes that awaits his reelection back to office comes 2027 in Kano and other Northern States.

He listed projects like the Kano–Kongolom Road, a major 132-kilometre, at N334 billion dualization and construction project aimed at connecting Kano with Jigawa and Katsina.

Similarly, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso explained that, the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, a Massive ongoing reconstruction utilizing durable continuous reinforced concrete pavement technology with added security enhancements like
In the same vein, the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, a colossal 1,068-kilometre, six-lane economic corridor that will integrate a rail line in the median, greatly connecting Northern regions, been awarded by the President for his concern to the Northern Region.

Musa Kwankwaso hints that A 37.8-kilometre dual carriageway designed with multiple bridges to divert heavy industrial traffic away from the Kano metropolis that is Kano Eastern Bypass is ongoing and will soon be completed.

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Another giant project according Kwankwaso is the Kano–Maradi Rail Line, a flagship 284-kilometre rail project cutting through Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina, designed to ease the transportation of goods and connect Nigeria with the Niger Republic.

While on Economic growth the President is working on AKK Gas Pipeline, the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline aimed at boosting domestic gas supply, industrialization, and power generation in Northern states, adding that this projects is near been completed.

On Ecological and Agricultural intervention the President Tinubu ensure the execution of Jakara-Gogau-Zungeru Project, he approved N47 billion for this massive urban sewage and ecological drainage system in Kano metropolis to control flooding and improve sanitation.

He also created Dams & Irrigation: Multi-billion Naira federal interventions have been released for 16 dams in Kano State, including the Challawa Gorge and Tiga Dams, alongside the broader Kano River Project to support agriculture.

On Healthcare Revitalization, The federal government has continuously upgraded Federal Teaching Hospitals across Northern zones and revitalized thousands of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) under the IMPACT program.

Still for the loves of the North, just recently the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu launched the Energize Commercialize Nigeria (ECoN) initiative in Kano, converting research and creative ideas into commercially viable products to create jobs across the Northwest.

“While Northwest Development Commission: The federal government has finalized development and inspection operations for the commission’s projects and its permanent headquarters in Kano.”

Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, notes that all these giant projects that are not merely on papers but they are lively going and anybody can touch and see them, shows the concern and love of the President Tinubu for the region.

He said, “President Tinubu should sleep with his two eyes closed because as per as reelection bid is concerned is a done deal and the North and Kano in particular will give him heavy votes that will quickly secure his victory”

Speaking on Peter Obi/Kwankwaso NDC Presidential Tickets, Musa Illiyasu, said that the contest is the most laughable in the recent Nigeria Political trajectory, because neither Obi no Kwankwaso have the regional recognition to win any election.

Further more, the Spokesperson of the Forum of the Federal Appointees, hints that, “Kwankwaso is flying a game with Peter Obi, because he is not sincere with their Projects”.

He added that, ” I can bet you, Kwankwaso is supporting a different Presidential Candidate, but sooner than later Nigerians would clearly see who is Kwankwaso and who did he stand with”.

The Forum Chairman Senator Bashir Garba Lado who is also the Adviser on National Assembly Senate, to the President, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso and all other Members, expressed deep determination to ensure that after securing victory for President Tinubu, they also secure Victory for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, three Senators of Barau Jibrin, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, together with all the 24 House of Representatives seat and 40 Kano Assembly seats.

“No doubt, our determination to ensure the victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Senator Barau Jibrin, Kawu Sumaila, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and all the Reps Seats and House of Assembly is clear and by the will of God our mission will be actualize”, Kwankwaso said.

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Arewa Youth Groups Reject Kwankwaso-Obi 2027 Ticket, Insist On North-South Power Rotation Agreement

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The Arewa Youth Merger Group and the Hausa-Fulani Coalition have distanced themselves from reports that former Kano State Governor, Engineerr. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is being considered as running mate to Peter Obi. on the platform of the NDC. in the 2027 general elections.

In a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Musa Mujahid Zaitawa and made available to journalists in Kano, the group said its position followed a merger it entered into with the APC business groups, farmers, students, and other stakeholders from Northern Nigeria.

The group said the alliance was based on a 2015 agreement between the North and South-West on power rotation an 8-year term for each region.
According to the statement, part of the agreement was that the North would produce a Muslim Vice President from among the 19 Northern states. This, it said, informed the choice of Senator . Kashim Shettima from the North-East as Vice President.

The group recalled that in 2015, the North supported the South-West by delivering votes that brought Muhammadu Buhari from the North-West as President for 8 years, with Proffessor. Yemi Osinbajo from the South-West as his deputy.

After Buhari’s tenure, it added, the North again supported Bola Ahmed Tinubu from Southern Nigeria, and was given the Vice Presidency in return with Kashim Shettima from the North-East.
“As part of honoring the agreement, the positions of Secretary to the Government of the Federation and APC National Chairman were also zoned to the North,” the statement read.

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The group explained that under the current APC arrangement, all six geopolitical zones are represented:
Senate President from South-South, President from South-West, Vice President North-East, Deputy Senate President from North-West, and Speaker of the House of Representatives .
“This is to ensure that every zone feels carried along,” it said.

The Arewa Youth Merger Group said it cannot forget the role some Igbo elements played after independence when Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, were killed in the 1966 coup.
“We, the youth of Arewa, will not forget that pain. Kwankwaso is trying to bring it back by going behind the North to align with the Igbo, a move that will reduce the North to spectators in Nigeria,” the statement said.

The group described the office of Vice President as said by Kwankwaso in the other time is a like a “spare tyre” and insisted that it is almost the turn of the North to produce the President again after Tinubu completes his second term in 2031, in line with the power rotation agreement.

The group accused Peter Obi of showing hostility toward Northerners during his time as Governor of Anambra State, alleging that he expelled Northerners and ordered them to pay for residence permits. It also alleged that a mosque was demolished under his administration.
“In 2023, Peter Obi campaigned on religious lines, telling Christians to vote for him. He showed that Northerners did not matter to him,” the statement added.

The group said there was no reason for Kwankwaso to now go and bring Obi and ask Northerners to forgive the Igbo for the killings of Northern leaders, without an apology.
“If the Igbo want forgiveness for the 1966 killings of Arewa leaders, they must, through their Ndigbo organizations, formally seek pardon from the people of Arewa,” it stated.

The group reaffirmed its support for the ongoing Muslim-Muslim ticket of Tinubu and Shettima and said it will work for the same arrangement in 2027.

It said if there must be any alliance between the North and the Igbo, the Igbo must first respect the agreement made with the South-West in 2015. “Buhari did 8 years. Now it is the turn of the South to do 8 years until 2031. After that, if the North decides to support the Igbo, then an Igbo man can run for President with a Northern Muslim as Vice President,” the statement said.

The group warned that it will not allow Kwankwaso to use the North’s political capital for personal ambition and destroy the agreement between the North and South-West.
It added that it will soon organize a peaceful protest to the National Assembly and the Senate to make known the position of Arewa youths and promote national unity.

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President Tinubu Appoints ex-Ekiti Gov. Fayose as Chairman Rural Electrification Agency

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of 26 persons into the boards and management of 10 federal government agencies and commissions, with former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, named Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA.

The appointments, announced on Monday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, take immediate effect.

According to the statement, Fayose will chair the board of the REA, while Ahmadu Abubakar and Engineer Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta were appointed as members and non-executive directors.

The board also includes the agency’s incumbent Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, alongside the three executive directors previously appointed.

President Tinubu also appointed Major General Junaid Bindawa as Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and approved the appointment of eight other officials into the commission.

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Former member of the House of Representatives from Lagos State, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, was named Secretary of the commission, while Dr Ogbole Ene Lilian, Oladele Olatubosun and Yakubu Umar Barde were appointed as commissioners representing Benue, Oyo and Kaduna states, respectively.

Other members of the commission are Dr Mai Adamu Yau (Borno), Ginika Florence Tor (Enugu), Engineer Lawrence Okoh (Edo) and Bello Morenike Iyabode (Kogi).

In another appointment, Tosin Johnson Adeyanju, who previously served as Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, NLTF, was redeployed as Secretary of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission.

The President also appointed Dr Abuh Mohammed as Director-General of the National Population Commission, NPC, Dr Akinola Odeyemi as Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, NBET, and Dr Anthony Inalegwu Godwin as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.

Engineer Julius Oloro was named Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, NCAM, based in Ilorin, Kwara State. He succeeds Dr A.R. Kamal, who died in January.

Tinubu further approved the constitution of the board of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, with Dr Abdullahi Maikano Saidu appointed as Chairman.

Other members of the board are Mohammed Asmau, Mohammed Aliyu Makama, Dr Suleiman Gidado, Louis O. Ndukwe, Amaechi Ugwele and Olaniyi Idowu Onikola.

The President also appointed Shuni Muhammad Dahiru as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education. Dahiru replaces Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, who was reassigned to the Petroleum Trust Development Fund, PTDF, in April.

In the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, Tinubu appointed Gisaor Vincent Iorja as Executive Director, Finance, to replace Mathias Byuan, who resigned from the position to contest the Benue State governorship election.

Iorja, an economist, legal scholar and academic, is currently the Secretary of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC.

The Presidency said all the appointments take immediate effect.

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