CAN chairman chided Rev. Pam for creating a bad image for Nigerian christians while in Rome.
The Christian Association of Nigeria has called for the probe of the National Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC) over alleged embezzlement of funds meant for the 2022 pilgrimage.
The CAN Adamawa State Chairman, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, stated this while accusing the NCPC Executive Secretary, Rev. Yakubu Pam, of embezzling funds provided by the Adamawa State government for the 2022 pilgrimage.
Bishop Mamza who doubles as the Catholic bishop of Yola Diocese, accordingly urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to launch an investigation against Rev. Pam for his handling of the 2022 pilgrimage in Rome, Italy.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, the CAN chairman chided Rev. Pam for creating a bad image for Nigerian christians while in Rome.
Mamza alleged that the pilgrimage to Rome in the last six months was characterised by corruption and barefaced embezzlement.
He said “The Adamawa State Government paid for over 100 pilgrims but Rev. Pam could not provide accommodation for our people.
"Our pilgrims, including three first class traditional rulers were stranded and left without even food or accommodation in Rome. There were no buses to move our pilgrims from place to place.”
"As the leader of a team of 135 pilgrims in Rome, I had to withdraw from my personal bank account in the Vatican to provide accommodation for some of our pilgrims," he said.
Bishop Mamza who said he was reacting because another round of pilgrimage was on the corner, as such he called on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, to wade into the commission.
He therefore, invited the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the activities of the commission with a view to unraveling the massive corruption and mismanagement of the entire process.
"My conscience has been bordering me about the activities taking place at the National Christian Pilgrimage Commission under the leadership of Rev. Yakubu Pam to Rome, six months ago because pilgrims were left stranded to their fates despite adequate funds made available by the Adamawa State government.
"The said pilgrimage that supposed to be for a minimum of one week or 10 days, most pilgrims stayed for only one night because no arrangements for accommodation, feeding and buses for movements by the commission.
"The National Christian Pilgrims Commission is in a serious mess and I want to use this opportunity to call on the SGF, because I understand that the commission is under his office; therefore, the activities of Rev.Yakubu Pam at the National Christian Pilgrims Commission should be investigated.
"In fact I wouldn't even hesitate to say that the EFCC and ICPC should go and investigate the activities that are taking place at the National Christian Pilgrims Commission because I am sure they will find a lot of things happening there that are not in order," Mamza said.