ICPC arrests, detains singer D’banj for alleged fraud

Popular Nigerian singer, Oladapo Oyebanji, better known as D’banj, has been arrested and detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

The singer was arrested on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, after ICPC operatives moved on him and forced him to surrender at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Premium Times reports.

The kokomaster is alleged to have fraudulently diverted funds meant to empower youths under the N-Power project into his personal accounts.

The N-Power project is an empowerment program set up by the Nigerian government to address the issue of youth unemployment and help increase social development.

It was, however, alleged that Dbanj had conspired with corrupt government officials to introduce “ghost beneficiaries” onto the payroll of the funds.

The monies allocated to those beneficiaries have now been traced to accounts that are linked to the singer.

According to Premium Times, after Dbanj 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.

On arrival, D’banj was subjected to a prolonged interrogation session, after which he was detained.

The singer’s plea for administrative bail was rejected by officials, who said he could not be trusted to attend his trial if released on bail.