3 officials fired over alleged Hajj scam in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma has dismissed three high-profile government officials over an alleged Hajj fraud.

"His Excellency the President wishes to inform the general public that the following officials who are members of the Hajj committee have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect," according to a press release issued by the country's state house late Saturday.

The concerned officials are Alhaji M.A.Bah, minister of state, Alhaji Sheka Kamara, special assistant on social affairs and Alhaji Nurudeen Sankoh, special assistant on political affairs.

The officials, who are presently in Saudi Arabia, are instructed to return to Sierra Leone immediately as "an inquiry is being instituted into the organization of this year's pilgrimage to Mecca", the press release said.

Last year, two government officials were also arrested by the country's anti-graft agency for alleged embezzlement of Hajj funds.