N-Power: Dbanj arrested for diverting N100 million stipends meant for deserving Nigerians
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested and detained Nigerian musician, Oladapo Oyebanji, popularly known as D’banj for alleged fraud.
The pop star, a wealthy Nigerian celebrity, is 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 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 is then paid to accounts that have now allegedly been linked to the pop star.
It was reported that the popular musician 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.
D’banj, insiders said, had dodged summons for weeks, claiming to be overseas for scheduled concerts each time he was invited to appear for interrogation over fraud allegations.
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.
