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Stakeholders hail EFCC for grilling ex-NAHCON boss Zikirullah over alleged hajj fraud
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Hajj stakeholders in Nigeria have commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for grilling the immediate past Chairman and CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Zikirullah Kunle Hassan over alleged multibillion naira fraud.
The anti-graft agency on Monday quizzed Zikirullah for hours at its head office in Abuja over various allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds during his four-year stint at the hajj commission.
Officials at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja said Mr Zikirullah was grilled by a crack investigators of the EFCC over alleged fraud running into billions of naira.
A source who spoke under the condition of anonymity said, “Mr Zikirullah was with our detectives today (Monday) for hours. But he was later released on bail. He would return to us on Wednesday.”
Further findings revealed that Mr Zikirullah was being investigated for alleged 92 million Saudi Riyal fraud. “When he came on board in January 2020, he met 92 million Saudi Riyal on the Saudi Arabia NAHCON account, which is royalty funds left intact by two successive administrations of the board. But he depleted the account to 37 million Saudi Riyal as of 2022, after conducting one hajj operation, an official in the agency said.
The former chairman, the insider said, is also being investigated for allegedly squandering N3.2 billion hajj development levy fund; about N2.5 billion meant for renovation and furnishing of NAHCON headquarters (Hajj House) and also construction of Hajj Institute at CBD in Abuja.
Other issues are pilgrims’ hajj refunds; procurement fraud; concession of public lands without due process; illegal payment to family members from official purse, among others.
Other areas under investigation, according to the anti-corruption agency’s insiders, include the introduction of three new fraudulent budget lines in 2022 and 2023 budgets, passed under President Buhari. He was said to have allegedly defrauded the government of N600 million in connivance with some lawmakers. The three budget lines were, however, removed under President Bola Tinubu.
EFCC is also probing Mr Zikirullah’s introduction of 5% percent additional charges on accommodations, feeding, Mu’assasah services in Masha’er, among others.
Mr Zikirullah’s interrogation comes just a week after The Companion, an umbrella body for Muslims in business and professionals in the Southwest, organized a phantom event to celebrate his stint at NAHCON.
Alleging that the event was bankrolled by Mr Zikirullah, the executive secretaries of the six Southwest states and other members of the hajj family boycotted the event which took place in Lagos a week ago.
The Southwest secretaries have accused Zikirullah in a petition of withholding their 2022 hajj refunds for poor services and those services that were not rendered.
In a petition, the executive secretaries of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, categorically accused Mr Zikirullah of “unjustifiably” excluding them from the 2022 hajj refunds for services not rendered or rendered unsatisfactory to their pilgrims.
The pilgrims’ administrators expressed astonishment as to why Mr Zikirullah would be honoured or celebrated for conducting the worst hajj operations in NAHCON’s history and withholding their refunds.
However, this newspaper reports that the event was attended by some top Southwest politicians who are known political enemies of President Bola Tinubu.
They include Mr Rauf Aregbesola — Mr Zikirullah’s godfather, a two-term former Governor of Osun and Minister of Interior — who parted ways with Mr Tinubu; and Mr Muiz Banire, a former national legal adviser to the APC and AMCON chairman, and erstwhile associate of the president.
The hajj stakeholders said EFCC’s quizzing Zikirullah will spur confidence in the sector, reiterating that the anti-corruption agency would do a diligent investigation to recover public funds and make the culprits face the full wrath of the law.
“It is a good omen for the Hajj industry in Nigeria. The investigations would serve as a deterrent to hajj officials at the federal and state levels,” one of the officials said.
A chief executive of one of the states pilgrims boards, who declined being named, said the introduction of 5% was “contradictory at a time he was busy saying he would reduce hajj cost.
It was on record that the administrations before him conducted hajj operations with zero government funding and without introducing additional deductions of 5%.”
The pilgrims administrator said by introducing the 5% revenue, “it means every pilgrim paid additional N200,000. He increased the pilgrims burden, instead of lessening them.”
On the purported celebration of Zikirulah’s achievements, a catering service provider said the so-called celebration was unfortunate. “He superintended a regime that was [allegedly] collecting bribes for every contract. What is there to celebrate?,” the service provider, who requested anonymity said.
Another pilgrims official said the former NAHCON chief “performed two hajj operations that failed to airlift 6,000 pilgrims in 2022; and the worse one since 1980s that left thousands pilgrims stranded in Muna in 2023. That is his scorecard.”
Speaking on hajj saving scheme and hajj institute, another stakeholder said the institute was not in tandem with original concept. “He was left with money, land and local and foreign universities partners for curriculum development. But he ended up doing a shoddy job. It was same sad story on the hajj saving scheme. He operated it without recourse to the extant law, making the senate to declare it illegal.”
This newspaper gathered that the EFCC was working in dozen petitions and documents supplied by whistleblowers and other insiders from the commission.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Ex-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Accord Party.
Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court reportedly directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister the affected parties over alleged constitutional breaches in a ruling delivered on Monday, June 15.
Reacting to the judgment, Obi described the decision as another troubling development that could further erode public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the judiciary.
In a statement released on Monday, the former Anambra State governor argued that the court’s decision should be reversed, warning that weakening institutions for political purposes could have far-reaching consequences for the country.
According to Obi, the controversy surrounding the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, had earlier raised concerns about the independence and sanctity of Nigeria’s institutions.
He noted that while investors can manage security and policy risks, uncertainty in the rule of law and perceptions of judicial vulnerability to political influence remain major deterrents to investment.
Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure,” Obi stated.
The former presidential candidate lamented that many Nigerians have lost faith in institutions meant to protect them, adding that businesses increasingly prefer contracts governed by foreign jurisdictions due to greater confidence in their legal systems
Obi further argued that the judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and other political parties would further diminish public trust in the nation’s legal system.
“The Federal High Court judgment ordering the de-registration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man’s trust in our legal systems. It should be reversed,” he said.
He pledged to work towards restoring the dignity, independence, and integrity of the judiciary, emphasizing the need for a justice system that is impartial, accessible, and respected by all.
“The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all,” Obi added.
He also called on judges, senior advocates, legal luminaries, and lawyers across the country to defend the rule of law and safeguard Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country,” he urged.
Obi concluded his statement with his popular refrain: “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
The ruling has continued to generate debate among legal and political stakeholders, with many awaiting further reactions from the affected parties and the electoral commission.
…as elite policy institute fends off night raid
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, came under heavy attack on Monday night, June 15, 2026, as suspected attackers tried to breach Nigeria’s foremost policy school near Jos.
Two soldiers and one police officer were reportedly killed before security forces repelled the assault.
The attack began around 11:00 p.m.
Armed men attempted to force their way into the institute and reach the residential quarters where course participants were lodged, according to initial report by NewsmakersNG.
Sources said the slain police officer was the orderly attached to a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police. The two soldiers died in the exchange of fire that followed.
But the attackers were stopped. Security operatives stationed at NIPSS mounted swift resistance and blocked access to the participants’ wing.
“No participant was abducted because the security forces successfully repelled the attackers before they could enter the residential area,” a source familiar with the incident was quoted to have said.
—NIPSS confirms incident, urges calm—
In a press release issued early Tuesday, June 16, the institute confirmed a “security incident occurred in the vicinity of the Institute in the early hours of today.”
Management said the situation was “promptly brought under control through the swift response of security personnel and relevant security agencies.”
“There is currently no threat to the safety of participants, staff, residents, or facilities of the Institute, and normal activities are continuing as scheduled,” said Dr. Osime Samuel, mni, Head of Public Affairs.
The institute stressed that investigations were ongoing and it would be “premature to speculate on the nature, scope, or outcome of the event.”
NIPSS said it could not confirm details circulating on social media.
“We urge members of the public and the media to rely on official communications from the Institute and relevant security agencies,” the statement added.
–Manhunt begins, motive unclear–
As of press time, authorities had not released an official statement on the motive behind the attack.
Security has reportedly been reinforced around the institute as investigations and manhunt operations commenced.
NIPSS Kuru trains Nigeria’s top bureaucrats, military officers, and policy strategists. An attack on the institute is an attack on the country’s policy brain trust. That it was targeted at night, with participants inside, has raised fresh fears about insecurity reaching Nigeria’s elite institutions.
For now, the guns are silent. The participants are safe. But three security men paid with their lives to keep it that way.
By Ojomah Austin.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, lowering its gantry price by ₦75 per litre amid signs of stability in the global energy market.
In a circular issued to fuel marketers on Monday, the refinery disclosed that the new price adjustment takes effect from midnight, June 16, 2026.
Under the revised pricing structure, the gantry price of petrol has been reduced from ₦1,250 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, providing some relief to marketers and consumers after months of rising fuel costs.
The refinery also announced a reduction in its coastal supply price, which dropped from ₦1,595,790 per metric tonne to ₦1,495,215 per metric tonne.
According to the company, the decision was influenced by the recent easing of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, a development that has helped moderate global crude oil and energy prices.
“Following the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, which has impacted energy prices, we wish to inform you that we have reviewed our Premium Motor Spirit gantry and coastal prices,” the refinery stated in the notice to marketers.
The company further clarified that all outstanding unloaded gantry volumes would be recalculated using the new rate from the effective date.
“Kindly note that all outstanding unloaded gantry volumes will be repriced at the new rate effective 12:00 a.m., June 16, 2026. We sincerely appreciate your continued patronage and assure you of our unwavering commitment to reliable product supply and excellent service delivery,” the statement added.
Marketers Yet to Reflect New Price
Despite the refinery’s reduction, retail pump prices across many parts of the country remained significantly higher as of Monday.
Industry data from Petroleumprice.ng indicated that several filling stations were still selling petrol at around ₦1,240 per litre, suggesting that consumers may not immediately benefit from the refinery’s latest adjustment until existing stock is exhausted and new supplies enter the market.
The development positions Dangote Refinery as one of the most competitively priced suppliers in the domestic petroleum market.
Global Oil Prices Begin to Retreat
The latest price cut comes as pressure in the international crude oil market begins to ease following reports of renewed diplomatic engagements between the United States and Iran over the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Global oil prices had experienced significant volatility over the past three months due to hostilities involving the two countries.
The development positions Dangote Refinery as one of the most competitively priced suppliers in the domestic petroleum market.
Global Oil Prices Begin to Retreat
The latest price cut comes as pressure in the international crude oil market begins to ease following reports of renewed diplomatic engagements between the United States and Iran over the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Global oil prices had experienced significant volatility over the past three months due to hostilities involving the two countries.
Obi Slams Court Ruling Deregistering ADC, Accord, Three Other Political Parties
BREAKING: Gunmen storm NIPSS Kuru, kill two soldiers Police Officer
Dangote Refinery reduces price of fuel
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