{
  "id": 8968606,
  "title": "Benue suspends Muslim pilgrims board leadership over hajj slot, financial irregularities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/benue-suspends-muslim-pilgrims-board-leadership-over-hajj-slot-8968606",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T17:44:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/benue-suspends-muslim-pilgrims-board-leadership-over-hajj-slot-financial-irregularities/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Benue State government has suspended the Chairman and Executive Secretary of its Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board. According to the Daily Post Nigeria, the suspended officials are Alhaji Abubakar Adamu, Chairman, and Alhaji Ahmadu Alhassan, Executive Secretary.\n\nThe suspensions, which are for three months, were approved by the Benue State Executive Council and took effect from Monday, September 21, 2026. The government cited allegations of misuse of Hajj slot allocations and mismanagement of funds as reasons for the suspensions. The Executive Secretary is also accused of irregularities in the distribution of government palliatives.\n\nThe government has appointed Hon. Ahmed Tijani Adamu Esq. as Acting Chairman and Mr. Adamu Salihu Babi as Acting Executive Secretary to ensure continuity in the running of the Board. The suspensions are intended to allow for a thorough investigation into the allegations, and do not imply a finding of guilt against the suspended officials.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Benue suspends Muslim pilgrims board leadership over hajj slot, financial irregularities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/benue-suspends-muslim-pilgrims-board-leadership-over-hajj-slot",
        "published": "2026-09-21T17:38:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}