Amiru Hajj in Kwara, Ismail Bolaji Yahaya, states that 15 pilgrims from the state have been defrauded of their $500 basic travel allowance in Madina, Saudi Arabia.

Mr Yahaya disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Makkah on Tuesday.

He said that the investigation carried out by the stakeholders and management of Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board revealed that “some of our Fulani pilgrims were defrauded in Madina, particularly those who came with the first flight”.

He mentioned that a few days back, the attention of the government of Kwara State was drawn to a viral video clip showing one Mohammed Bello and several others, numbering about four.

“They alleged that right from home at General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Ilorin, they were given a dollar in five places as against $100 in five places. One of them alleged that the board, through its accounting department, gave them $5 as against $500.

“I make bold to say this allegation is far from the truth because the same process that every pilgrim passed through is the same process that I have passed through personally, being the amir of the hajj.

“The process is that every morning, operatives of the DSS check the accounting department. They searched the accountants there to make sure they did not enter into their office with any counterfeit currency,” Mr Yahaya explained.

He added, “They made sure they did not even go in there with any bag whatsoever. And at every point in time, this denomination of a hundred dollars, they count it one by one, place it on the table, and give to an individual pilgrim.”

He also mentioned that what was given to each pilgrim from Kwara was $100 in five places, totalling $500.

“But, apparently, when this video went viral, the governor immediately directed me to cause an investigation into the matter. I did in collaboration with the chairman of the board, the secretary, the SA religion, and a number of other principal officers of the board.

“Up to this hour, only 15 are serviced. And on the directive of the governor, we have refunded $500 back to each of these 15 pilgrims that have been identified,” Mr Yahaya stated.

(NAN)