The Immediate past Executive Secretary, Plateau Muslim Pilgrims Board, Alhaji Salisu Mohammed, has admitted to diverting N94 million from money paid by intending pilgrims.

Mohammed made this confession on Tuesday in Jos while testifying before a commission of inquiry set up by the state government to probe activities of the last administration in the state.

He told the commission that the money was diverted to sponsor himself and some politicians on pilgrimage.

“The funds were diverted from about 131 intending pilgrims who paid to travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2013 hajj,” he said.

According to him: “They were disqualified from participating in the pilgrimage because I was instructed verbally by then Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Shedrack Best to do so and use the money to sponsor some politicians,” he said.

“We used the money collected from the pilgrims to attend the World Islamic Conference in the United Kingdom and the hajj,” he further explained.

The Chairman of the commission, Justice Stephen Adah, expressed disappointment over the development and wondered why the former official got involved in such a criminal act.

He condemned at the act of depriving persons from performing spiritual rites for selfish reasons after they had paid the required fees.

Adah pledged that the commission would look into the matter and ensure that those responsible refund the monies to the owners.