Abdullahi Saleh Pakistan, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged multi-billion naira fraud.
According to sources within the anti-graft agency, Professor Pakistan arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 12 p.m. on Tuesday, accompanied by his personal lawyer, Kazeem Atetebi.
Insider reports revealed that the NAHCON boss was later granted administrative bail and instructed to report daily at 10 a.m. pending the conclusion of investigations.
Professor Pakistan is alleged to have exceeded the commission’s approved 2025 onshore/offshore budget by over 300 percent.
“The Presidency had approved an operational budget of $14 million — 70 percent to be sourced from NAHCON’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and 30 percent from the Federal Government,” a source familiar with the probe told DAILY NIGERIAN. “However, Mr. Pakistan went ahead and spent over $48 million during the 2025 Hajj without any approval.”
EFCC investigators have reportedly questioned more than 20 NAHCON staff members, many of whom pointed accusing fingers at the chairman.
Among the allegations under investigation are the alleged diversion of ₦25 billion for Masha’ir extra bed spaces, ₦1.6 billion spent on NAHCON staff spouses, and ₦8 billion on contingency bed spaces in Makkah.
Other areas being probed include extra-budgetary spending exceeding 300 percent of the approved allocation, ₦25 billion allegedly expended on officials and board members, ₦1.4 billion in committee allowances, and the mismanagement of bed space allocations in Madinah—from 11,000 to 18,000—for 41,000 pilgrims.
Sources disclosed that Professor Pakistan had initially been scheduled to appear before the EFCC on September 17, 2025, but sought an extension to travel to Saudi Arabia. The rescheduled hearing for October 2, 2025, was also missed after his return.
Security sources confirmed that on Monday, October 6, 2025, Professor Pakistan attended a meeting at the Presidential Villa with Vice President Kashim Shettima and other NAHCON officials, where the Vice President reportedly directed the commission to work towards reducing Hajj fares for 2026.