Why I was invited by EFCC – Ex-NAHCON Chair, Zikrullah Hassan

Zikrullah Hassan, the former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has refuted claims that he was summoned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with corruption allegations.

In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu removed Hassan from his position as the NAHCON boss and appointed Jalal Arabi as his successor. Additionally, the president instructed Hassan to take a three-month pre-retirement leave, spanning from October 2023 to January 2024.

Recent reports suggested that Hassan was interrogated by EFCC officials at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja regarding an alleged 92 million Saudi Riyal fraud.

Dismissing these claims, Hassan, through his spokesperson Shakirudeen Bankole, issued a statement on Thursday asserting that there is no truth in the reports of his invitation by the EFCC.

Hassan clarified that during his tenure at NAHCON, EFCC officials conducted a routine examination of the commission’s books. He emphasized that the commission’s officials provided satisfactory responses to the inquiries raised by the anti-graft agency.

In his statement, Hassan affirmed, “On my honour as a Muslim and a decent family man, I make bold to say that not for once did the EFCC operatives on an investigation mission at NAHCON consider it necessary to query me.”

He further highlighted that there is no evidence of his involvement with contractors or engaging in financial transactions on behalf of the relevant officials. Hassan concluded by expressing confidence that repeated checks by the EFCC would yield consistent results, emphasizing his commitment to maintaining professional integrity and responsibilit