Singer Oladapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj has been arrested and detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to report,the 42-year-old was arrested and detained on Tuesday after ICPC operatives closed in on him, forcing him to surrender himself at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The pop star is being accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of naira earmarked by the Nigerian government for N-Power project, an empowerment programme set up by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.
It was alleged that D’banj colluded with some compromised government officials to introduce ghost beneficiaries into the payroll of the scheme. The stipend paid to those beneficiaries are then paid to accounts that have now allegedly been linked to the pop star
It was also gathered that D’banj has been avoiding summons for weeks, claiming to be overseas for scheduled concerts each time he was invited to appear for interrogation over fraud allegation.
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After the singer failed to show up for interrogation despite multiple invitations, the ICPC moved to arrest him anywhere in Nigeria and abroad, forcing him to show up at the commission’s office on Tuesday.
It was also learnt that on arrival, D’banj was subjected to a prolonged interrogation session after which he was detained. His plea for administrative bail was, however, rejected by officials who said the ‘Olivia Twist’ singer could not be trusted to attend his trial if granted bail.
According to report, ICPC might approach the court today,Wednesday for an extended remand order to enable the agency complete its investigation before charging the musician to court.