The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Mr. Sirajo Salisu Usman, younger brother of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, popularly known as “Pakistan,” over alleged mismanagement and fraud running into more than ₦50 billion.
Mr. Sirajo was arrested on Wednesday afternoon by EFCC operatives in Abuja.
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He had previously been questioned earlier this month alongside other senior officials of the commission.
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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).
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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 officials—including 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.
“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.
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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.
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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