The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC has broken its silence concerning singer, D’banj’s arrest.
Gistreel earlier reported that ICPC moved to arrest the Afro-pop star following several summons.
The singer is being accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of naira earmarked by the Nigerian government for the N-Power project, an empowerment program set up by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.
ICPC has now refuted claims of the arrest saying the singer “simply honored their invitation”.
The statement reads:
“In line with its mandate, the Commission had received numerous petitions on the diversion of N-Power funds running into billions of naira following the approval and release of such funds to the beneficiaries by the Federal Government. Many N-Power beneficiaries had complained over the non-receipt of the monthly funds in spite of payment by the Government.
About 10 persons have been invited by the ICPC over the last few months in connection with the N-Power fraud, and have been granted administrative bail after their detention. Several invitations to Mr. Oladipo Daniel Oyebanjo, to appear before a team of investigators were ignored and not honoured.
Mr. Oyebanjo turned in himself and was taken into custody at the ICPC Headquarters on Tuesday, 6th December 2022, and is currently assisting the investigators to unravel the circumstances of the fraud allegations by the petitioners.
The investigation will be all-encompassing and also be extended to other collaborators of the fraud and the banks where the beneficiaries’ accounts are domiciled.
The press release becomes necessary to set the record straight in view of the reports awash in the media. The investigation is ongoing and the Commission prefers not to preempt its outcome and also avoid the frenzy of a media trial”.
