Kano State government says some former officials of the state pilgrims welfare agency will be prosecuted for fraudulent sale of 156 Hajj slots.
The Director- General of the Agency, Laminu Rabiu, stated this on Wednesday.
It will be recalled that the National Hajj Commission had allocated 6, 144 seats to Kano, but the agency’s official headed by Muhammad Abba Danbatta, sold additional Hajj seats to 156 intending pilgrims.
“Kano State has been allocated 6,144.
“On resumption of duty after my appointment as the Director-General, I found out that all the seats have been sold by the then Secretary. I did not meet any available seats.
“Moreso, he had oversold the seats by about 156 seats, meaning that [those affected] will not be able to perform the Hajj even after making all payments and fulfilling the requirements.
“It is really very sad to collect people’s money and disappoint them after they might have informed all and sundry that they were going to attend the pilgrimage.
“We have pleaded with them to be patient and assured them that next year they will be among the first to be considered.
“Already 2, 558 have been successfully airlifted to the Holy Land.
“We are going to investigate the incident after the Hajj and ensure that whosoever is found guilty of any wrongdoings faces the wrath of the law accordingly,” Rabiu said.
(vitalnewsngr.com)