Aregbsola Refunds N17.7m to Pilgrims in Osun

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun has refunded N17.7 million to Osun pilgrims who performed their Hajj last year in Mecca, Saudi Arebia.

The governor refunded the money due to the lapses in rendering some services to the pilgrims while in holy land.

The Osun 2015 Amir Hajj, Alhaji  Dhikrullahi Olakunle Hassan, who represented the governor and refunded the money at the Government Secretariat Abere, on Monday said that a some of N11, 500 were repaid to 852 pilgrims on April 6th, 2016 and N9, 300 on June 6 to sum up  a total of N17, 721,600.

Hassan said 852 pilgrims from Osun went to perform Hajj in Mecca last year, adding that their money was refunded by Saudi government through National Hajj Commission of Nigeria due to the failure to render some services as a result of crane crash during Hajj.

He disclosed that the governor paid the first repayment immediately it was received in April, saying that the second pay back in June was got last week and paid on Monday.

The Amir added that 9 pilgrims were left to receive the first reimbursement paid in April, saying that government is committed to give them when they come. He said further that both the first and second refund would be given to them when they come.

Hassan stressed that if the 9 people failed to come for the money, it would be transferred to Abuja in National Hajj Commission’s account.

Some of the beneficiaries of the refund were: Alhaji Rauf Tiamiyu, batch one; Alhaji Lukman Oyebamiji, batch one; Alhaji Tiamiyu Yusuf, batch two; Alhaji Adeleke Abdul-Ganiyu, batch two; Alhaja Abimbola Mujidat, batch three as well as Alhaja Simbiyat Durodoye, batch three.