The Lagos State House of Assembly has begun an investigation into the N46 million the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board allegedly stole from 2022 Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, after SaharaReporters' investigation. SaharaReporters had exclusively reported in July, how the Lagos State Commissioner and top government officials defrauded Hajj pilgrims of N47 million in Saudi Arabia. It also reported that some Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia accused top officials of the Lagos State Government of forcing them to pay a higher amount for animal sacrifices called Hadaya.
The Chairman of Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Shakiru AbdulGafar, has confirmed the arrest of an official of the board, Tajudeen Anifowoshe, over the exploitation of 2022 Hajj pilgrims. SaharaReporters had recently reported exclusively that Anifowoshe was picked up by the Nigeria Police Force after several failed attempts. He was arrested in connection with the extortion of 1672 pilgrims by the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board when they forced pilgrims to pay a higher amount for animal sacrifices called Hadaya.
Some underground efforts have begun to cover up the grand corruption and exploitation of over N46million from 2022 Hajj pilgrims by the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, SaharaReporters has learnt. SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that over N46million was exploited from 1,672 pilgrims under the guise of Hadaya (animal slaughtering), a rite usually performed at the annual Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has been accused of sharing N46million largesse extorted from the 2022 Hajj pilgrims. SaharaReporters had in July reported that some Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia accused top officials of the Lagos State Government of forcing them to pay a higher amount for animal sacrifices called Hadaya. The pilgrims were expected to pay for an animal sacrifice.
A staff of the Lagos State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Tajudeen Anifowose, has been arrested by the Nigerian police operatives from Zone 2, Lagos, over the extortion of N46million from 2022 Hajj pilgrims. Anifowose was picked up by men of the police force after several failed attempts. He was arrested in connection with the extortion of 1672 pilgrims by the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board when they forced pilgrims to pay a higher amount for animal sacrifices called Hadaya. The pilgrims were expected to pay for an animal sacrifice.