The group accused Pam of gross disregard for the board, high handedness and corruption.
The Niger Delta Anti-Corruption Network, a civic group, has called on anti-graft commissions, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) over alleged massive irregularities.
It expressed dismay over alleged high-level corruption in the commission under the secretary, Rev. Yakubu Pam.
In a statement signed by John Umoh, the group accused Pam of gross disregard for the board, high handedness and corruption.
Umoh decried the unpleasant reports emanating from the commission, especially as a government agency saddled with the responsibility of relating with foreign partners.
Among others things, the group said that Pam who has been accused of arbitrarily fixing hotel and flight tickets for pilgrims across the country strictly with connivance with foreign partners to shortchange Nigerian Christians who go for pilgrimage.
Umoh further called on the authorities to probe the allegation that Pam surreptitiously engaged his firm to handle the COVID-19 vaccine test and certification for all pilgrims.
He added that there are growing concerns that top officials in the Secretary to the Government of the Federation's office are collaborating with Pam in all the fraud being committed at the Commission.
He noted that the persons shielded him from prosecution.
This is coming few days after the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman in Adamawa State, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, alleged massive corruption at the pilgrimage commission, calling on the anti-graft agencies to wade in.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Yola, Mamza called for the resignation of the commission’s executive secretary for alleged shortchanging of pilgrims of their accommodation money.
He alleged that some of them spent only one night in the holy land and returned to Nigeria because they had nowhere to sleep and no feeding.
Mamza noted that the vibes and ripples from all the states is the same as they complain of shortchange by the Pam-led commission.
But refuting the allegations, the pilgrims commission in a statement signed by the Head of Media and Public Relations, Celestine Toruka, said it did not handle any logistic arrangements for the Adamawa pilgrims.
“The commission was never part of any logistics arrangements for Adamawa pilgrims. It is therefore surprising that the respected Catholic Bishop of Yola Dioceses, His Grace, Bishop Mamza is accusing the commission of gross misconduct and corruption even though he knows that the commission was only called to save the Adamawa Rome Pilgrimage trip from collapse. He should channel his grievances to the Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board who handled all aspects of the Rome pilgrimage except visas,” the statement read.