The Nigerian Police Force and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have cleared singer Dapo Oyebanjo also known as D’banj of rape and fraud allegations.
In 2020, the singer was accused of rape by a woman named Seyitan Babatayo, causing the Inspector General of Police to order an investigation into the allegation.
D’banj was also accused of diverting funds associated with the N-Power Programme of the Federal Government in 2022.
The police and the anti-graft agency gave the 43-year-old a clean slate in separate clearance reports upon completion of investigations with incontrovertible outcomes on the innocence of the ‘Fall in Love’ singer.
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 investigation and clearance from the anti-corruption agency were exhibited and marked exhibit A and B, the legal practitioner averred that the police and ICPC cleared the singer of rape and fraud allegations.
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.
“The allegation was investigated, the complainant, witnesses and suspects made their statements. The investigation was expanded across board but there was no prima-facie evidence, adduced facts or corroborative evidence to establish the offence of rape and sexual assault against the singer,” the report read in parts.
On the allegation of N-Power fraud, the ICPC said that D’banj is innocent of the accusation and cleared him of any infraction on the matter.
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The clarification dated November 29, 2023, with document number ICPC/OPS/SDD/SPT.LG/31/23 stated that “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 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.
