Popular Nigerian musician, D’banj has been arrested and detained by The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC).
The entertainer was arrested and detained on Tuesday after ICPC detectives closed in on him, threatening him to surrender himself at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, sources familiar with the matter said.
It was reported that whenever the singer is being invited for interrogation, he dodges and claims to be out of the country for music tour.
The music star, a rich Nigerian celebrity, is accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of naira reserved by the Nigerian government for N-Power project, an empowerment programme established by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.
Investigators revealed that D’banj conspired with some compromised government administrators to introduce ghost successors into the payroll of the scheme. The allowance paid to those beneficiaries are then paid to accounts that have now reportedly been associated with 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 lengthy query trial after which he was detained. His appeal for administrative bail was rejected by officials who said the musician could not be believed 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, D’banj too could not be reached for statement.