Image
August 24, 2022
SaharaReporters had recently reported exclusively that Anifowoshe was picked up by the Nigeria Police Force after several failed attempts.
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.
AbdulGafar, however, claimed that the arrest of Anifowoshe had nothing to do with the issue of ram sacrifice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during Hajj exercise claiming
He claimed that the official’s arrest by security operatives from Zone 2 Command was in relation to collection of money from unsuspecting intending pilgrims to help them facilitate their visas for the pilgrimage.
“It is unfortunate that Anifowoshe tried to circumvent the laid down procedures by extorting unsuspecting intending pilgrims.
“However, when the ministry got a hint about his unethical action, he was summoned, but refused to appear for questioning,” AbdulGafar said.
A top source said had revealed to SaharaReporters that Anifowoshe defrauded about 17 intending pilgrims of over N26million.
"Anifowoshe was also fingered in several sharp and corrupt practices in the management of the pilgrimage services, defrauded over 17 intending pilgrims of over N26million.
"He used his closeness to the Executive Secretary to exploit the obvious closeness to deceive his victims,” the source said.
The victims reported their cases to Zone 2 of the Police and he was subsequently arrested.
SaharaReporters had reported that 555 Saudi Riyards was collected from each of the 1672 Pilgrims for rams but the board employed the service of a Saudi Arabia collaborator who was given 300 Saudi Riyards leaving a huge sum of N46million.
SaharaReporters gathered that in a bid to democratise the extortion, the Lagos Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board shared the extorted sum among its members.
A top source who was aware of the sharing confirmed to SaharaReporters that while sub-committee members got $100, committee members got $200.
“To prevent staff and members of the pilgrims board from further spilling the beans, the Chairman of the board decided to share the proceed of crimes, totaling about N46million with unsuspecting members of the board and staff. Each member of the 36 membered sub-committee was given $100.
“Each of the board members, 6 of them, got $200 each, while some of the regular staff of the board got between 100 and 200 Riyads,” the source had said.
