The Imo State Government has inaugurated a five-man Administrative Panel to investigate various allegations arising from the 2014 Hajj operations, with a mandate to submit report within two weeks.

Secretary to the Government of Imo State (SGI), Sir Jude Ejiogu, inaugurated the panel at the Cabinet Office, Owerri, on Monday, on behalf of the State Government. He stated that the committee is expected to investigate circumstances surrounding non-refund of fares to 22 intending pilgrims, after it was clear that they could not travel to the Holy Land in 2014.

Sir Ejiogu while reading the terms of reference also charged them to determine total amount paid by individual Muslim Pilgrims for the 2014 Hajj, advising them to ascertain whether their Hajj fares were paid into the Pilgrims Board account and thereafter, remitted to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria or not.

He therefore directed them to assess the problem identified by the ad-hoc Hajj Committee in its report on the outcome of the 2014 Hajj operations and proffer solutions to them, urging them to make recommendations for smooth orderly Hajj operations in future.

Speaking on behalf of others, Chairman of the Panel and Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs in the Cabinet Office, Mr. Eddy Igharo, thanked the state government for finding them worthy to serve, and assured of their willingness to carry out the function assiduously.

Mr. Igharo therefore promised that the panel would touch every salient points raised in the terms of reference, assuring that they would conclude within the time frame.

The panel is made up of Mrs. N.U. Izunobi, Pastor Nwabueze Nwobu, Mr. J.O. Iwuchukwu, and Mr. C.A. Oparanozie who serves as Secretary of the Panel.

•Photo shows SGI, Sir Jude Ejiogu.

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