Nigeria's Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday said it has detained Mr. Oladipo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly called, D’Banj, over the alleged diversion of N-Power Programme funds.
In a statement signed by the Commission’s spokesperson Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, the ICPC stated that his arrest follows a series of complaints about the diversion of the N-Power funds made against him by the scheme's beneficiaries.
ICPC further disclosed that the wealthy pop star finally turned himself in on Tuesday after failing to honor several invitations to appear before the Commission's investigators.
According to the statement, “In line with its mandate, the Commission had 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. Many N-Power beneficiaries had complained over the non-receipt of the monthly funds despite 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 honored.
D'bang, Image: Daily Post
“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 investigation will be all-encompassing and also be extended to other collaborators of the fraud and the banks where the beneficiaries’ accounts are domiciled.
“The press release becomes necessary to set the record straight given the reports awash in the media. The investigation is ongoing and the Commission prefers not to preempt its outcome and also avoid the frenzy of a media trial”, the statement said.
Vanguard quoting a source said that for weeks, D’banj dodged the ICPC summons claiming he was overseas for scheduled concerts.
Investigators claim that D’banj conspired with some compromised government officials to introduce ghost beneficiaries into the scheme's payroll and allegedly collected stipends paid to those ghost beneficiaries through several bank accounts that have now been linked to him.
Vanguard sources further revealed that the music star was questioned for long hours when he arrived at the ICPC headquarters on Tuesday. Officials also turned down D'banj's appeals for administrative bail, saying he could not be trusted to attend his trial if released on bail, the sources said.
The N-Power scheme was established by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 to address youth unemployment and empowerment and also help to increase social development.
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