The immediate past Chairman of the Muslims’ National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman has narrated the story of underhand financial deal that contradicted his personal policy at the time he accepted to serve.
Speaking in an interview in Hausa language on a television programme, Professor Saleh Usman said that he had vowed when he accepted to serve not to knowingly get involved in anything that would bring shame to himself, his family, Islam, Kano State and Nigeria.
He recalled an incidence when he was on an official journey to Saudi Arabia and the sum of over 10,000 Saudi Arabia Riyal (over N350,000) was brought to him and he was told it was transport money.
“I was surprised and shocked because I already had a car and driver attached to me. I didn’t have any need for such money, and of course, I was not the one responsible for buying fuel if there was need for it.
“I directed that the money should be quickly returned to the account. I insisted that the Bank receipt showing the evidence of the return of the money should be brought back to me. I also directed other officers who similarly enjoyed free vehicles and drivers and still collected the transport money to return the money to the Bank.
“I have the feeling that this my position would annoy those who were used to it. And I was ready to deal with any officer who was out to defraud the Commission.”
Professor Saleh Usman, who voluntarily resigned his appointment barely a year on the seat, stressed that he was not prepared to fall in line with the established protocols that did not agree with his personal policy.
“I was not prepared to just tag along with the system at the end of which I would be held responsible by the anti corruption agencies over things that I didn’t know how and why they were done.”
Observers noted that Professor Saleh Usman recently resigned in protest over such unholy practices in the system of governance at higher levels.
