Nigerian Singer D’banj Arrested for Alleged Fraud worth over N100M
Popular singer, Oladapo Oyebanji more known by his stage name, D’banj has been arrested and detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC).
D’banj is being accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of millions of naira earmarked by the Nigerian government for the N-Power project, an empowerment programme set up by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.
Investigators allege 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 is then paid to accounts that have now allegedly been linked to the pop star.
Insiders say D’banj had dodged summons for weeks, claiming to be overseas for scheduled concerts each time he was invited to appear for interrogation over fraud allegations.
After the musician failed to show up for interrogation despite multiple invitations, the ICPC closed in on him, forcing him to surrender himself at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
On arrival, D’banj was subjected to a prolonged interrogation session after which he was detained.
His plea for administrative bail was rejected by officials who said the musician could not be trusted to attend his trial if released on bail.
