President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the new Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), effectively removing the previous head, Jalal Arabi amid corruption allegations.

Professor Usman is a renowned scholar with qualifications from the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan.

He previously served as Chairman of the Kano State Pilgrims Board, successfully overseeing the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country.

According to a statement by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngalale, the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

The President expects the new Chairman of NAHCON to discharge his duties with integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation,” the statement said.

The development comes after the previous Chairman, Jalal Arabi, and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, were grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged mismanagement or diversion of parts of the N90bn released by the Federal Government to subsidize the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Arabi and Kontagora spent three nights in EFCC custody last week after failing to meet their bail conditions.