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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arrested and imprisoned Oladapo Oyebanji, also known as D’banj.

The rapper was seized and held on Tuesday as ICPC detectives closed in on him, prompting him to submit himself at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Insiders said D’banj had evaded summons for weeks, claiming to be overseas for scheduled concerts each time he was summoned for questioning on a fraud accusation.

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The artist is accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of thousands of naira designated by the Nigerian government for the N-Power initiative, an empowerment program established by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address young unemployment and social development.

Investigators believe D’banj conspired with some corrupt government officials to put bogus beneficiaries on the scheme’s payroll. The stipend is subsequently paid to those beneficiaries’ accounts, which are now supposedly linked to the pop singer.

Reasons for D’banj’s Arrest

The ICPC moved to arrest the artist anywhere in Nigeria and abroad after he refused to appear for interrogation despite several invitations, prompting him to appear at the commission’s office on Tuesday.

D’banj was jailed after being exposed to a lengthy interrogation session upon his arrival. Officials denied his request for administrative bail, claiming that if freed on bond, the musician could not be trusted to attend his trial.

According to our sources, the ICPC may petition the court on Wednesday for an extended remand order to allow the agency to complete its investigation before charging the musician in court.

Azuka Ogugua, the ICPC’s spokesperson, could not be reached for comment on this article. She is supposed to be attending a program in another country. Because he was detained, the musician could not be reached for comment.

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