Hajj Probe: Reconstitute Committee, Journalists Urge Senate

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), on Tuesday, called on the Nigerian Senate to reconstitute its Ad hoc Committee on Pilgrims Accommodation, Logistics Onshore and Offshore Activities with a view to thoroughly and objectively look at ways of improving hajj operations in the country.

Headed by Senator Adamu Aliero, the Committee had presented its report at the Plenary a week before the Senate went on recess.

But in an emailed statement jointly signed by the duo of the National Coordinator and Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Muhammad and Abubakar Mahmoud, respectively, IHR noted that the report has been discredited by stakeholders.

“However, the report has already been discredited by virtually all hajj stakeholders as a made up of fabrications. The first person to find fault with the report of the Aliero-led Committee is the Nigerian Consular General to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Mr. Mohammed Yunusa, who raised serious integrity questions on the reports,” the statement read in part.

It recalled that Yunusa, in a telephone interview with an online media organisation, accused the Adamu Aliero-led Committee of only concocting lies that are aimed at disparaging the Chairman of NAHCON, Abdullahi Mohammed.

“He also alleged that the Aliero-led team did not meet with a single organisation involved in Hajj affairs during their visit to Saudi Arabia.

“How can you say you are investigating (the) conduct of Hajj operations and officials? You came all the way to Saudi Arabia and refused to meet with the Ministry of Hajj, the Adilla in Madinah, hotel owners, caterers, car syndicate and Muassassa?” it queried.

Also making reference to another media report, IHR pointed out that the Chairman of Zamfara State Hajj Commission, Alhaji Abubakar Pawa Dambo, who also doubles as the Chairman of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards Chairmen Forum, observed that what the Aliero Committee said in its report was only their own perception and imagination.

“He challenged the Committee to back up their claims with facts and figures. He said it was unfair for the Aliero-led Committee to draw such wrong conclusion even though it never deem it fit to invite them during its sittings.

“More worrisome to us are the counter allegations made by NAHCON against the findings of the Committee that: the Ad hoc Committee invited one IG Wala to testify before it on matters that are currently subject of litigation before two courts with suit Nos FCT/HC/CV/3018/17 and CR/96/18; the Committee as part of its recommendations made a counter-recommendation regarding a Saudi Service Provider on a matter in which there is a ruling by a Saudi Court in Makkah on 5th Muharram 1439; the same Saudi-based blacklisted accommodation provider; that Senator Adamu Aliero’s committee met in Saudi Arabia, as alleged by Nigerian Consular General to Jeddah, Mr. Mohammed Yunusa; the Committee did not reflect the explanations made by the Commission on many issues during the public hearing conducted by it in which some of the participants were compelled to swear with the Holy Qur’an, while some just affirmed, thereby, contravening the provisions of the Oaths Act; that the Ad hoc Committee gave special consideration to Captain Mohammed Joji and I. G. Wala, after the close of the public hearing.

“Also, the Committee made several allegations that were not discussed during its public hearing.

“There are also unconfirmed reports that the report of the committee was written by one member of the Committee who was alleged to have vowed to get back at the leadership of NAHCON by any means necessary for personal reasons,” it said.

It also stated that the Senator Adamu Aliero Ad hoc Committee misused the opportunity given to it to contribute to the development of Hajj operations, and instead, pursued personal vendetta, thereby putting the integrity of the Senate in question.

“We are, therefore, calling on the Senate to constitute another adhoc committee on hajj that will genuinely investigate the activities of NAHCON, state pilgrims boards, Tour Operators and other hajj stakeholders with a view to making hajj a memorable spiritual journey for Nigerian Muslims,” IHR said.