The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arrested and imprisoned Oladapo Oyebanji, also known as D’banj.
According to individuals acquainted with the situation, the artist was arrested and jailed on Tuesday when ICPC detectives closed in on him, prompting him to submit himself at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Insiders said D’banj had evaded summons for weeks, claiming to be overseas for booked concerts each time he was summoned for questioning on a fraud accusation.
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The wealthy Nigerian celebrity is accused of unlawfully diverting hundreds of millions of naira designated by the Nigerian government for the N-Power initiative, an empowerment program established by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address young unemployment and social development.
Investigators believe D’banj conspired with certain corrupt government officials to put bogus beneficiaries on the scheme’s payroll. The stipend is subsequently paid to those recipients’ accounts, which are now supposedly linked to the pop singer.
The ICPC proceeded to arrest the artist anywhere in Nigeria and overseas after he refused to appear for questioning despite several invitations, prompting him to appear at the commission’s headquarters on Tuesday.
D’banj was jailed after being exposed to a lengthy interrogation session upon his arrival. Officials denied his request for administrative bail, claiming that if freed on bond, the musician could not be trusted to attend his trial.
According to our sources, the ICPC may petition the court on Wednesday for an extended remand order to allow the agency to finish its investigation before prosecuting the singer in court.
