As controversy over the arrest of Nigerian pop singer, Oladapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) rages on, the singer has responded through his lawyer, urging the anti-graft agency to carry out its investigation and desist from engaging in media trial.
The Koko Master as he loves to be called was reportedly arrested and detained, Tuesday by the anti-graft agency over fraud related offences but D’banj in a statement released yesterday described the arrest as “misconceived, mischievous and prejudicial to the justice system anywhere in the world.”
He was accused of conniving with some corrupt government officials to divert hundreds of thousands of naira earmarked by the Nigerian government for N-Power project, an empowerment programme set up by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, to address youth unemployment and increase social development.
In his statement, D’banj said: “The media is awash with reports of Oladapo Oyebanjo, Dbanj, in ICPC custody, with regard to unestablished allegations of fraud for which it has become crucial to make the following statement, for the purpose of clarity and to set public records straight.
“It is instructive to state foremost that the report concerning the arrest and detention of Oyebanjo is misconceived, malicious and prejudicial to the justice system anywhere in the world, and we would advise that the general public be well guided.
“We acknowledge the fact that the ICPC is currently investigating allegations of diversion of N-Power funds, as already stated by the commission and we continue to hold the expectation that the commission will stay the course of professionalism in this matter.”
He advised the public to resist the urge to buy into the media trial, which she described as “ unsurprising but regardless harmful to the course for the truth which D’banj has willingly set himself on by honouring the ICPC’s summons.”
“We retain the hope that the thoroughness of the ICPC will in no time exonerate D’banj of all and every allegation levelled against his person and it is for this reason that we implore the general public to stay guarded against malicious traducers who may be attempting to soil his image for their own purposes,” the statement said.
Why we arrested him -ICPC
The anti-graft agency in his reaction via its Instagram account explained why the singer was arrested, saying 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 bails after their detention.
“Several invitations to Mr Oladipo Daniel Oyebanjo to appear before a team of investigators were ignored and not honoured,” the agency stated.
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