The immediate past Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, has described as a tissue of lies a recent online publication alleging that he was grilled by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission over alleged gross misconduct while in office.
Following the report by the online newspaper, he has threatened legal action through his lawyers to seek redress.
Hassan spoke through a statement by his Media Adviser, Shakirudeen Bankole, on Thursday.
The publication alleged that the former NAHCON’s boss was invited and questioned by the anti-graft body on February 26, 2024 over allegations of corruption and related offences.
The statement, while acknowledging that officials of the agency examined the books of the Commission when Hassan was still in office, stated that NAHCON’s relevant officials provided all answers to the queries raised by the EFCC operatives.
Hassan said: “On my honour as a Muslim and a decent family man, I make bold to say that not for once did the EFCC operatives on investigation mission at NAHCON consider it necessary to query me.
“You can’t find any evidence of my interface with contractors nor running any financial transaction in place of the relevant officials.
“If they run their checks ten times more, the result will remain the same, that is, I don’t meddle with specialised responsibilities being a responsible professional myself.”
Assuring the Muslim ummah and the general public of his untainted record while in office, Alhaji Hassan disclosed that his team of lawyers would soon seek redress against the publishers of the online news portal for “indulging in reckless falsehood bereft of any iota of truth”.
Speaking on the recent reception held in his honour by The Companion, an association of Muslim men in Business and the Professions, Alhaji Hassan declared that it was mischievous for the news portal to celebrate the absence of certain individuals and officials.
Hassan explained further that he was invited to the reception, just like other guests, even as it was hosted to honour him for being the worthy ambassador of the organisers.
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Alhaji Hassan said: “It may well interest those insinuating their biases in the guest selection that The Companion ranks beyond their pettiness.
We’re talking about a reputable association of high profile professionals and decent business men of the best rating around the world.
“They know what is best for whatever design they have.
“It is not for some idlers to volunteer unsolicited trifles.”
Alhaji Hassan served as the NAHCON’s Chairman and Chief Executive between 2019 and 2023.
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