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ICPC, police clear D’Banj of rape, N-Power fraud allegations.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Police Force have officially cleared Nigerian singer Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, of both rape and fraud allegations.
The singer was arrested and detained on December 6, 2022, in connection with allegations of colluding with government officials to introduce ghost beneficiaries into the N-Power payroll.
In 2020, D’Banj also faced accusations of rape, leading to an investigation ordered by the Inspector General of Police. However, both the police and the anti-graft agency have now provided clearance for the musician.
According to an affidavit filed by a legal practitioner before the District Court of Abuja, the police and ICPC issued separate clearance reports confirming D’banj’s innocence. The police report, dated November 14, 2023, stated that the investigation found no evidence to substantiate the rape and sexual assault allegations against the singer.
The ICPC, in response to an inquiry, declared that there was no prima facie case of fraud against D’banj in relation to the administration of the N-POWER Scheme. The singer’s lawyer also emphasized in a deposition that D’banj was never a government official, had no access to government funds, and did not receive payment for his support of the N-Power campaign.
These clearance reports serve as official declarations of D’banj’s innocence, putting an end to the legal controversies surrounding the artist.