For leading Nigerian artist and superstar musician, Dapo Oyebanjo, widely known as D’banj, freedom has come at last,as he was completely exonerated of all allegations of rape and N-power fraud by both the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). his defence in both matters bordering on rape and fraud was spearheaded by Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN (the lead counsel in both matters),who led other lawyers.
In exclusive documents obtained on Friday, the Police and the anti-graft agency issued clearance reports separately, confirming the crooner’s innocence following thorough investigations over a long period.
Deposing an affidavit before the District Court of Abuja, one of DBanj’s lawyers, Toheeb Lawal, from Law Corridor, also involved in the matter, marked the reports of the Nigeria Police Force and ICPC as exhibits A and B. In the affidavit, it was stated that both the Police and the ICPC absolved the singer of any wrongdoing concerning the rape and fraud accusations.
In 2020, D’banj had faced allegations of rape, prompting an investigation by the then Inspector General of Police. According to a report dated November 14, 2023, the Police said it found no evidence substantiating the claim after extensive investigations, including statements from the complainant, witnesses, and suspects. The Glee Hotel in Lagos, where the alleged incident occurred, also attested to the fact that D’banj was not present in the hotel on the mentioned date.
Similarly, in 2022, the ICPC accused D’banj of diverting funds related to the N-Power Programme. However, after thorough investigation, the Commission cleared him of any fraudulent activities, emphasizing that there was no prima facie case established against him.
Mr Toheeb further confirmed in his deposition that the singer was never a government official, had no access to government funds, and participated in the N-power campaign without any financial gain, a point earlier emphasized by Prof Ozekhome in a letter to the ICPC. The ICPC’s clearance, dated November 29, 2023, affirmed that D’banj was not under investigation for any fraud-related offence. For Dbanj, it is now Uhuru.
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