Following his release after about 72 hours in the custody of anti-graft agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), popular Nigerian singer Dapo Oyebanji, popularly known as D’banj has opened up on the allegation of fraud he was arrested for.
D’banj was detained on Tuesday over alleged involvement in diversion of hundreds of millions of naira from the Federal Government’s empowerment programme, popularly known as N-Power.
He allegedly connived with government officials to enlist ghost beneficiaries whose stipends are being paid into account linked to him.
Though D’banj has denied any involvement in the fraud, he was held by the ICPC until Friday afternoon when he was released.
Speaking on his social media post soon after his release, D’banj reiterated his innocence.
While emphasising that he was not involved in any form of fraud, the singer said, “Global thank you to the world. I was invited to an ongoing investigation in ICPC. I have assisted the commission with all I know, and I am confident in their capacity to unravel the truth in the matter; I have no business with fraud; all I do is #choplife”.
Meanwhile, Pelumi Olajengbesi, D’Banj’s lawyer had also denied that his client was involved in the ‘N-Power Scheme.’
While announcing the release of the singer by ICPC in a statement on Friday, Olajengbesi said his client was detained for 72 hours over false allegation
“It is instructive to note that the ICPC released D’banj) on self-recognition after the agency could not find anything incriminating on him.
“Nigerians must be told the truth that D’banj) is clean and have no criminal or fraud record. It, however, an embarrassment to the entire country that such a huge allegation of N900m fraud against a public figure without any evidence.
“The ICPC Chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN) and the entire officers of the ICPC must be deeply sad and embarrassed also that their decent organization was used for such a shameful publicity against an innocent man. Only few organizations and persons stood and waited to verify the claims. This form of media trial is evil.
“The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, who claimed to have instructed the ICPC to detain D’banj must now be ready to explain to world the money traced to his account and the amount.
“We still demand that the minister provide the details of the government authority D’banj allegedly collaborated with and provide the account and N-power funds allegedly traced to Dbanj’s account.
“This is injustice and upon the instruction of our client, we may head to court to seek redress, a public apology and compensation from the ICPC. The detention of D’banj is an injustice having that the ICPC found nothing incriminating traced to his innocent personality.
“This is to say a big thank you to Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and my Learned Senior Barr. Babs Akinwumi for the leadership.”
