The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business and the professions has reacted to an online publication, describing as “phantom” its recent grand reception in honour of the immediate past Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan.
The organisation declared that the author of the controversial publication was misguided, hence the “malicious” contents.
This was contained in a press release jointly signed by the group’s National Amir, Engr. Kamil Olalekan and the Public Affairs Secretary, Muideen Adeleke.
The statement contended that the story was fabricated by an unscrupulous clique, who were taken by surprise, the unprecedented achievements of the avid Islamic scholar and successful legal practitioner, while he held sway at NAHCON.
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The Companion recalled that, despite the fact that his appointment coincided with the outbreak of the global pandemic, COVID-19 in 2020, Alhaji Hassan “hit the ground running and raised the bar of Hajj administration in Nigeria through the introduction of a number of reforms”.
The Companion stressed that, contrary to the figment of warped imagination of the writer of the report, that the reception which was held on February 18, was bankrolled by the Ex-NAHCON boss, a four-man Committee constituted by the organisation independently raised the funds and invited esteemed guests who graced the event.
“It is ludicrous that the online media threw all cautions into the winds by publishing tissues of lies and also made no efforts to reach out to the man in question in line with the spirit of balancing, before rushing to the press,” said the statement.
The Companion reiterated that it is proud of Alhaji Hassan, adding that contrary to the unsubstantiated report published about him, his exploits are already in the public domain for posterity.
It related that a cross-section of professionals, clerics, academics, captains of industries, as well as leaders of Muslims in the South West who attended the well-deserved reception in Lagos, extolled the virtues of service to Islam, dedication and patriotism demonstrated by Alhaji Hassan, while he was in the saddle, as NAHCON Chairman.
Recall that Alhaji Hassan has described last week, as a tissue of lies, the publication, which alleged that he was invited and grilled by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, over alleged gross misconduct while in office.
The former NAHCON boss following the publication, threatened legal action through his lawyers to seek redress.
Alhaji Hassan served as the NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive, between 2019 and 2023.
