ICPC arrests, detains D’banj over ‘N-Power fraud’

ICPC arrests, detains D’banj over ‘N-Power fraud’

D’banj, the award-winning Nigerian singer, has been arrested and detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

A top source at the ICPC told Our Correspondent that the music star was apprehended by the commission on Tuesday — a few weeks after the 41-year-old was summoned.

It was gathered that D’banj is under investigation for allegedly diverting funds released for the federal government’s N-Power project.

In 2016, the federal government initiated N-Power to address the country’s unemployment challenges.

It is understood that the stipends meant for beneficiaries of the initiative were paid to accounts allegedly linked to the ‘Fall in Love’ crooner.

The ICPC was said to have invited the singer for interrogation for several weeks but he reportedly shunned the invitation, citing his tight schedule.

After the musician’s refusal to honour its invitation, the ICPC commenced efforts to arrest him.

The move was said to have informed D’banj’s decision to turn up at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Upon arrival, D’banj was detained after interrogation by the commission.

The source also confirmed  that the commission rejected D’banj’s request for an administrative bail due to his initial refusal to honour its invitation.

The singer is still in detention as of Wednesday morning.

It was also gathered that the ICPC is considering approaching a court to extend D’banj’s detention pending the conclusion of its investigation.

The singer is yet to react to his arrest as of the time of this report.