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December 7, 2022
The anti-graft agency detained D’banj on Tuesday over fraud allegations involving the N-Power programme.
Famous Nigerian musician, Oladapo Oyebanji, famously known as D'banj will be released Wednesday night (tonight) from the detention facility of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), SaharaReporters has learnt.
The anti-graft agency detained D’banj on Tuesday over fraud allegations involving the N-Power programme.
On June 8, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the programme to address the issues of youth unemployment and empowerment, and also promote social development.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the anti-graft agency said it received numerous petitions on the diversion of N-Power funds running into billions of naira following the approval and release of such funds to the beneficiaries by the Federal Government.
It said many N-Power beneficiaries had complained over the non-receipt of the monthly funds in spite of payment by the government.
“About 10 persons have been invited by the ICPC over the last few months in connection with the N-Power fraud, and have been granted administrative bail after their detention. Several invitations to Mr. Oladipo Daniel Oyebanjo, to appear before a team of investigators were ignored and not honoured.
“Mr. Oyebanjo turned in himself and was taken into custody at the ICPC Headquarters on Tuesday, 6th December, 2022, and is currently assisting the investigators to unravel the circumstances of the fraud allegations by the petitioners,” the agency’s spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua said on Wednesday.
However, SaharaReporters exclusively learnt that the agency would release D’banj on Wednesday night after failing to successfully link the musician to the fraudulent activities in the N-Power programme.
“D’banj will be released tonight by the ICPC. The agency is unable to link him concretely with fraudulent activities in N-Power,” a top source in the agency told SaharaReporters.
Earlier, D’banj reacted to the fraud allegations linked to him, encouraging the agency to carry out its investigation into the allegations objectively.
In a statement released through Maryam El-yakub Musa. Esq., Asst. Team Head, Litigation, LAW CORRIDOR, D’banj denied the allegations and urged the public not to get carried by the “media trial”.
“D’banj has encouraged the Commission to carry out its investigation thoroughly to ensure that characters attempting to bring him into such ridiculous activities must be brought to book.
“It is inconceivable that D’banj whose very career is a reference point for hard work, diligence and honesty would lend his reputation built steadfastly over the years to acts of such accusations which he must now stoically suffer through while clearing his name.
“The general public are advised to resist the urge to buy into media sensationalism which is unsurprising but regardless harmful to the course for the truth which D’banj has willing set himself on by honouring the ICPC’s summons,” the statement said.