D’banj Cleared by ICPC and Police Of N-Power Fraud, and Rape 

-Abiodun Sanusi

Nigerian singer, Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, has been cleared of rape and N-power fraud allegations by the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

In separate documents exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Friday, the police and the anti-graft agency gave the artiste a clean slate in separate clearance reports upon completion of investigations.

In an affidavit deposed by Toheeb Lawal of Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, before the District Court of Abuja, wherein the reports of the Nigeria Police Force Investigation and clearance from the ICPC were marked exhibits A and B, the legal practitioner averred that the police and the ICPC cleared the singer of rape and fraud allegations.

The PUNCH reports that in 2020, the singer was accused of rape, and the Inspector General of Police ordered an investigation into the allegation.

In a report dated November 14, 2023, with case number CR:3000/X/FHQ/ABJ/SEB/T.1/VOL 18/284 and signed by ACP YY Abubakar of the Special Enquiry Bureau at the Force Criminal Investigations Department at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the police said the matter was investigated but there was no evidence to substantiate the claim.

“There is no medical report on the victim to ascertain that she was raped. There are no adduced facts or corroborative evidence to substantiate the allegation of rape against the suspect. Prima facie offences of indecent assault, rape, and intimidation are not made out.

“However, the complainant, through her counsel, Ojoge, Omileye & Partners, submitted a later, dated July 17, 2020, to the DIG Force CID, to voluntarily withdraw the petition and discontinue the investigation.”

Also,  in 2022, the ICPC accused D’banj of diverting funds associated with the N-Power Programme of the Federal Government.

However, after its investigation, the ICPC said that D’banj was not guilty of any fraud allegation.

In response to an inquiry, the commission cleared D’banj of any infraction on the matter.

The clarification was dated November 29, 2023, with document number ICPC/OPS/SDD/SPT.LG/31/23.

“The commission investigated issues of fraud in the administration of the N-POWER Scheme, where Mr Daniel Oladapo Oyebanjo’s name came up. However, there was no prima facie case of fraud against him.

“Kindly be advised that Mr Daniel Oladapo Oyebanjo is not under investigation with the Commission for any fraud-related offence,” the ICPC clearance partly read. D’banj’s lawyer, in his deposition filed before the Chief District Court of the Federal Capital Territory at Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, also averred that the singer was never a government official and never had any access to government funds and that the N-power campaign he supported was free and was never paid a penny by anyone or the government.