The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) has arrested and detained Oladapo Oyebanji, more known by his stage name, D’banj, PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively report.

The musician was arrested and detained Tuesday after ICPC operatives closed in on him, forcing him to surrender himself at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, sources familiar with the matter said.

D’banj, insiders said, had dodged summons for weeks, claiming to be overseas for scheduled concerts each time he was invited to appear for interrogation over fraud allegation.

The pop star, a wealthy Nigerian celebrity, is accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of naira earmarked by the Nigerian government for N-Power project, an empowerment programme set up by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.

Investigators allege that D’banj colluded with some compromised government officials to introduce ghost beneficiaries into the payroll of the scheme. The stipend paid to those beneficiaries are then paid to accounts that have now allegedly been linked to the pop star.

After the musician failed to show up for interrogation despite multiple invitations, the ICPC moved to arrest him anywhere in Nigeria and abroad, forcing him to show up at the commission’s office on Tuesday.

On arrival, D’banj was subjected to a prolonged interrogation session after which he was detained. His plea for administrative bail was rejected by officials who said the musician could not be trusted to attend his trial if released on bail.

Our sources said the ICPC might approach the court on Wednesday for an extended remand order to enable the agency complete its investigation before charging the musician to court.

The spokesperson for the ICPC, Azuka Ogugua, could not be reached to comment for this story. She is said to be attending a programme abroad. Being in detention, the musician too could not be reached for comment

D’banj, 42, also known as the Kokomaster, was born on 9 June, 1980 in Zaria in Kaduna State, north-west Nigeria, to a military officer who commanded an artillery regiment and a businesswoman from Shagamu in Ogun State (South-west Nigeria), his profile on Wikipedia says.

The musician has twins as siblings — Taiwo and Kehinde Oyebanjo.

A songwriter, singer, rapper and television personality, D’banj has been active in the vibrant Nigerian music scene since 2004. He sings afrobeat, hip pop, pop, and R&B.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/music/569353-exclusive-nigerian-pop-star-dbanj-arrested-detained.html

For them to have arrested him means he is likely to be culpable.
Why would he get himself into all these kinds of underhand deals in the first place?

Yahoo boy on the mic

Imagine colluding with government officials to rob the country.
This is why all these yeyebrities cannot call out government for wrongdoing, they have their hands in the till.

Who are the government officials and what is their state?

Or as usual, they will begin investigation after arrest?

FN Fake news

What? Dbanj? How?

ICPC works on proper intelligence unlike their brother who behave like hungry police officers.

Good, very very good. Those complaining about Govt corruption is because they haven't got the opportunity to steal from the cookie jar. Everyone is corrupt, Obi is even worse.

Keenly Watching as the story unfolds

Na we naija be this?

Skibanj



No wonder D'Banj no dey sing again

As a Nigerian Oldman/Youth he had to N-Power himself first

No time for bullshit, na Politics money sweet pass

I remember when AfDB also gave him the contract for that cocoa na Chocolate song

.

Him no Bolowowen this time oo ;DHim no Bolowowen this time oo

How true is this story...

This proves that almost all Nigerians are corrupt when given the chance. Those lamenting upadan on nairaland are just bitter because their own opportunity to loot is yet to present itself

Hmmn

The problem of Nigeria are some Nigerians.

Check this thread for amazing car deals and more.

https://www.nairaland.com/7463003/car-deals-make-dream-buying

Your dream of buying a car this year can still come to pass.

Everybody na scam

How this country wan take better sef?
When craze pple plenty pass normal people.
Youths indeed...

I just imagined if it was Peter Okoye or an Igbo musician they arrested for this same crime, the way Tinubu supporters would have been running around like headless chickens insulting Peter Obi and Igbos, just take a look at the thread, some of them are still attacking Peter Obi and the Igbos even though D'banj is Yoruba

Back to the topic:

Since they transferred the Npower from Osinbajo to Disaster minister, it became a pipe for fraudulent money just like the school feeding

.

Bangalore Lee

This is why you shouldn't envy anyone.

Government money dey sweet but e get bitter aftertaste because na we poor masses dey suffer am.

We'll watch and see how this turns out.

I don't believe it
Dbanj keh

Hmmm this country though, everyone is a Criminal yet they keep making it look as if it's the FG alone that are the problem

Like same d’banj? How come?

Na wa o
The kokomaster kokoleting with our commonwealth

Your sins shall find you out.

It's a pity but it's true.

All these celebrities are yahoo boys low key if uno uno

Those government officials he colluded with should also be arrested alongside dbanj to show the world the investigation is transparent and just ☹️

Wealthy musician indeed

Arrested for diverting hundreds of naira?

Pls make it make sense.