Nigerian Music Artiste, D’Banj cleared of Fraud charges

Singer Dapo Oyebanjo, widely known as D’banj, has been cleared of both rape and fraud accusations by the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), according to reports released upon the conclusion of their investigations.

The clearance reports, marked as exhibits A and B in an affidavit deposed by Toheeb Lawal of the Law Corridor law firm before the District Court of Abuja, confirmed the artist’s exoneration from the allegations of rape and involvement in N-Power program fund diversion.

Regarding the rape accusation made against D’banj in 2020, the Inspector General of Police had ordered an investigation into the matter. The police report, dated November 14, 2023, and signed by ACP YY Abubakar of the Special Enquiry Bureau at the Force Criminal Investigations Department in Abuja, stated the findings of the investigation.

It indicated that despite comprehensive inquiries, there was a lack of substantiating evidence supporting the allegations.

The report highlighted the examination of statements from the complainant, witnesses, and suspects, along with inquiries conducted at the Glee Hotel in Lagos, where the incident was said to have occurred.

However, hotel management and staff testified that D’banj wasn’t present on the alleged date, discrediting the accusations further. Moreover, there was a lack of medical evidence to confirm the alleged assault. Ultimately, the police report concluded the absence of credible evidence for charges of indecent assault, rape, or intimidation against D’banj.

Similarly, in 2022, the ICPC had implicated D’banj in fraudulent activities linked to the N-Power Programme. Following a thorough investigation, the commission confirmed D’banj’s innocence regarding any fraudulent involvement in the scheme.

The ICPC clarification, dated November 29, 2023, and identified as document number ICPC/OPS/SDD/SPT.LG/31/23, explicitly stated the absence of a prima facie case of fraud against the artist, asserting that he was not under investigation for any fraud-related offenses.

D’banj’s legal representative, in a deposition filed before the Chief District Court of the Federal Capital Territory at Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, emphasized that the singer had never held a government position or accessed government funds.

The lawyer further clarified that D’banj’s support for the N-Power campaign was voluntary and not financially compensated by the government or any other party.

The clearance reports from both the Nigeria Police Force and the ICPC have seemingly vindicated D’banj from the serious allegations brought against him, putting an end to the investigations into these matters.