Afrobeat Star D’Banj from Nigeria has been arrested and detained on an allegation of fraudulently diverting funds from Nigeria’s N-Power project. This is according to an exclusive report. by Premium Timesan online nigerian newspaper.
According to the report, the Independent Commission for Corrupt Practices and other Related Crimes(ICPC) arrested D’Banj whose official name is Oladapo Oyebanji.
What the report says: The online newspaper suggests that the artist has been avoiding arrest for a few weeks until the authorities arrested him.
- “The musician was arrested and detained on Tuesday after CIPC agents surrounded him and forced him to surrender at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, sources familiar with the matter said. D’banj, experts said, had dodged subpoenas for weeks, claiming he was abroad for scheduled concerts whenever he was invited to appear for questioning on fraud charges.
- “The pop star, a wealthy Nigerian celebrity, is accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of nairas earmarked by the Nigerian government for the N-Power projectan empowerment program established by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.”
- “Investigators allege that D’banj colluded with compromised government officials to introduce phantom payees onto the plan’s payroll. The stipend paid to those recipients is then paid to accounts that have now allegedly been linked to the pop star.”
D’banj was said to have been denied any administrative bail after ICPC subjected him to “multiple interrogations”.
About ICPC: The Independent Commission on Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes was inaugurated on September 29, 2000 by the President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR.
- The Commission champions the country’s fight against corruption and declares that its first function is to receive complaints, investigate and prosecute offenders.
- Their duties also include receiving and investigating corrupt crime reports created by the Act and, in appropriate cases, prosecuting the offender(s) – Enforcement Duties.
- Also examine, review and enforce the correctness of the systems and procedures of public bodies susceptible to corruption, with a view to eliminating or minimizing corruption in public life – duties of prevention.
- Other functions: review and modify the systems and procedures of public bodies, as well as educate the public and encourage their support in the fight against corruption.
Read the article about Premium Times.