JUST IN; Nigerian Music superstar D’Banj arrested

Nigerian Music superstar D’Banj arrested by ICPC

Officers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have reportedly arrested and detained sensational Afro Pop maestro, Oladapo Oyebanji popularly known as D’banj, in Abuja.

According to reports, the singer was picked up on Monday over alleged fund diversion of millions of N-Power funds in collaboration with some government officials.

It was reported that the singer had failed to honour the police summons for months before Monday when he eventually surrendered himself and was immediately detained and denied bail.

Dbanj had reportedly connived with corrupt government officials to introduce ghost beneficiaries into the payroll of the funds, and the monies were later traced to accounts associated with the singer.

But reacting, his close associate, Mallam Yankee, denied his arrest.

Yankee was reported to have said that the singer was invited but was not arrested.

“I’m aware, he was invited and not arrested. The person they are looking for is his business partner,” he added.

But a source within the anti-graft agency told The PUNCH that: “Our investigation shows that D’banj colluded with some government officials to infuse ghost beneficiaries into the payroll of the scheme. With this, the stipend paid to those ghost beneficiaries are directly paid to bank accounts linked to the singer.

“On arrival he was interrogated for hours after which he was detained and his plea for administrative bail was rejected by officials, for lack of trust.”

The source further said that an official statement would soon be released concerning the matter, saying that D’Banj would be arraigned in court this week, for an extended remand order to enable further investigation before finally charging him to court to answer to the allegations.

As of press time, the spokesperson for the ICPC, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, was yet to issue an official statement on the incident.