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December 9, 2022
The anti-graft agency had on Tuesday detained Dbanji over fraud allegations involving the N-Power programme.
Nigerian musician, Oladapo Oyebanji, also known as D’Banj, may take the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to court “to seek redress, a public apology and a compensation,” his lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi has hinted.
The ICPC released the Nigerian musician after 72 hours of detention.
The anti-graft agency had on Tuesday detained Dbanji over fraud allegations involving the N-Power programme.
A statement issued by Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, the ICPC's spokeswoman, had said that D'banj was under investigation for fraud connected to the N-Power Programme. But the music star had dared the government to provide evidence against him.
On Friday, Dbamji’s lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq., Managing Partner at Law Corridor said that the ICPC released D’banj on self-recognition after the agency could not find anything incriminating on him.
Olajengbesi in a statement made available to SaharaReporters said that “Nigerians must be told the truth that D’banj is clean and has no criminal or fraud record. It is, however, an embarrassment to the entire country that such a huge allegation of N900m fraud against a public figure without any evidence.”
According to Olajengbesi, “The ICPC Chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN) and the entire officers of the ICPC must be deeply sad and embarrassed also that their decent organization was used for such a shameful publicity against an innocent man. Only a few organizations and persons stood and waited to verify the claims. This form of media trial is evil.
“The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, who claimed to have instructed the ICPC to detain D’banj must now be ready to explain to the world the money traced to his account and the amount.
“We still demand that the minister provide the details of the government authority D’banj allegedly collaborated with and provide the account and N-power funds allegedly traced to Dbanj’s account.
“This is injustice and upon the instruction of our client, we may head to court to seek redress, a public apology and a compensation from the ICPC. The detention of D’banj) is an injustice having that the ICPC found nothing incriminating traced to his innocent personality.
“This is to say a big thank you to Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and my Learned Senior Barr. Babs Akinwumi for the leadership.”
The anti-graft agency detained D’banj on Tuesday over fraud allegations involving the N-Power programme.
On June 8, 2016, President Muha
mmadu 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 had said many N-Power beneficiaries had complained over the non-receipt of the monthly funds in spite of payment by the government.