Activist and he convener of Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria, CATBAN, Ibrahim Garba Wala, has been remanded in Suleja Prisons, following his inability to meet his bail condition.
On September 26, 2017, Mr Wala wrote on his Facebook page that chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Abdullahi Mukhtar, had corruptly enriched himself to the tune of N3billion during the 2017 Hajj exercise.
He said: “In the interim, CATBAN tends to question how NAHCON expended the total sum of N97,906,500,000 (almost Hundred Billion) accrued from the payment of N1.5million by each individuals that made up the 65,271 being the Total Number of Nigerian Muslim Pilgrims for 2017.
“Looking into the document, airlines and hotels agents were involved in making of figures which consist of kickbacks to officials.
“These figures are too exorbitant. In line with the objectives of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration on the fight against corruption, CATBAN demands a report detailing how the 2017 Hajj Operation was conducted to be published immediately.”
Mr Wala was arrested by the police and has been in their custody since January 4, after Mr Mukhtar slammed a N100million suit against him for allegedly defaming his character.
Mr Wala was arraigned Wednesday before an Abuja High Court sitting in Jabi on a 3-count charge of criminal defamation of character, public incitement and operating illegal organisation (CATBAN).
The presiding judge, Yusuf Halilu, admitted Mr Wala to bail with two sureties who must be directors in the civil service or produce two prominent Nigerians who must show evidence of ownership of landed properties within Abuja and deposit surety bond worth N25m each.
He was therefore sent to Suleja Prisons for remand pending the time he meets the conditions.
