Nigerian artist Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, has been absolved of allegations involving both rape and fraud by separate entities—the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Following thorough investigations, both the police and the anti-graft agency provided unequivocal reports affirming the innocence of the ‘Fall-In-Love’ singer, clearing him of any wrongdoing.
In an affidavit filed by Toheeb Lawal from the Law Corridor law firm in Abuja, submitted before the District Court of Abuja, reports from the Nigeria Police investigation and the ICPC clearance were presented as exhibits A and B, validating the singer’s exoneration from allegations of rape and fraud.
The accusations arose in 2020, prompting an inquiry into the rape allegations by the Inspector General of Police. However, in a report dated November 14, 2023, under case number CR:3000/X/FHQ/ABJ/SEB/T.1/VOL 18/284 and signed by ACP YY Abubakar from the Special Enquiry Bureau at the Force Criminal Investigations Department in Abuja, the police concluded the investigation with no substantiated evidence supporting the claim.
“The allegation was investigated,” the report partly read. “The complainant, witnesses, and suspects made their statements. The investigation was expanded across the board but there was no prima-facie evidence, adduced facts, or corroborative evidence to establish the offense of rape and sexual assault against the singer.”
Also, sometime in late 2022, D’banj was wrongly accused of diversion of funds associated with the N-Power Programme of the Federal Government.
However, in a separate outcome 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 offense,” the statement partly read.
The 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.
