In a surprise move, President Bola Tinubu has sacked Jalal Arabi as the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) amidst an ongoing probe into the agency's activities.

Arabi's dismissal comes after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested him and the commission's secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, over alleged financial irregularities related to the 2024 Hajj operations.

According to Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, "The President has lost confidence in the leadership of NAHCON and has decided to appoint a new Chairman to restore integrity and transparency to the agency."

Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, a renowned Islamic scholar, has been nominated as the new Chairman of NAHCON. 

Ngelale stated, "Professor Usman is a distinguished scholar with a deep understanding of Hajj operations. We expect him to bring his expertise and integrity to the role and discharge his duties with utmost fidelity to the nation."

The EFCC's investigation revealed that Arabi and other officials had fraudulently overpaid themselves for the 2024 Hajj operational costs, with a total of 314,098 Saudi Riyals recovered from them.

"The chairman's actions were unacceptable, and the President will not tolerate corruption in any form," Ngelale added.

The appointment of Professor Usman is subject to confirmation by the Senate. As the new Chairman of NAHCON, he will be responsible for overseeing the agency's operations and ensuring that they are conducted with transparency and integrity.