The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), on Wednesday, said popular musician, Mr. Oladipo Daniel Oyebanjo, otherwise known as D’Banj, has been arrested and detained over his involvement in the ongoing investigation of fraud associated with the N-Power programme.
ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, said Mr. Oyebanjo turned in himself and was taken into custody at the ICPC headquarters on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, and was assisting the investigators to unravel the circumstances of the fraud allegations.
The ICPC further said 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 but several invitations to D’Banj to appear before a team of investigators were ignored and not honoured.
“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 ICPC stated.
The N-Power is a scheme established by President Muhammadu Buhari on 8th June, 2016, to address the issues of youth unemployment and empowerment, and help increase social development.
The spokesperson of the anti-graft agency noted that in line with its mandate, the ICPC 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.
The ICPC said many N-Power beneficiaries had complained over the non-receipt of the monthly funds in spite of payment by the government.
