Breaking: D'BanJ released on Self-recognizance, over 90,000 Ghost beneficiaries found

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has released popular musician, Daniel Oladapo aka D’banj.

Recall that D'BanJ was arrested based on allegation that a Bank Account linked to DBanj was used to fraudulently divert over million of naira through the creation of "ghost" beneficiaries, while all Stipends paid were channelled to the said account.

D’banj’s lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, shared photos of the freed singer on his Facebook page on Friday.

He wrote, “D'banj released on self recognizance after ICPC could not find anything incriminating on him.

"He is clean. It is an embarrassment to the entire country that such a huge allegation of 900m Naira without any evidence, yet made public unconfirmed.

"The Chairman and entire officers of ICPC must be deeply sad and embarrassed also that their decent organisation was used for such shameful publicity against an innocent man.

"Only few organizations and persons stood and waited to verify the claims.

"The Minister that claimed to have instructed ICPC, when she only cashed into already ongoing investigation must now be ready to explain to world.

"We still demand, provide the details of the government authority he allegedly collaborated with. Provide the account and amount allegedly traced to Dbanj’s account.

"This is to say big thank you to Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN and my Learned Senior Barr. Babs for the leadership. Special thanks to all officers of ICPC for treating Dbanj kindly through his stay. Dbanj, chop life!"

Meanwhile, Sahara Reporters on Thursday reported that an insider within the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Development disclosed that over 70,000 ghost N-Power beneficiaries were introduced by top government officials and fraudulently diverted billions of naira into their pockets through the means.

"70,000 names were infused into N-Power by officials of the Buhari regime in the last four years.

"The fake list costs Nigeria N2.1 billion per year while original N-Power candidates are left unpaid,” a source had told the newspaper.

According to Sahara Reporters, DBanj release was concluded on Wednesday night as the agency was unable to link him concretely with fraudulent activities in N-Power Programme - a top source in the agency had told SaharaReporters.

However, the source on Thursday said investigators discovered a fresh list containing over 20,000 ghost names, tagged “D’banj’s list.”

He said the names were allegedly used to divert over N600 million monthly for over two years by government officials in connivance with the Nigerian musician.

The source however added that D’banj refuted the allegation and denied any knowledge of the list.

"Like I told you yesterday, D’banj was to be released last night but our (ICPC) Director of OperationS wasn’t available. So, his lawyers were asked to come back today,” he said.

"But our investigators just discovered another 20,000 N-Power list, so he (D’banj) will remain in detention.

"Today when his lawyers arrived for his release, they were told about this fresh list containing 20,000 names. This list was being used to divert N600 million monthly from Nigeria in the last two years by Buhari government officials. The list containing 20,000 names has been bleeding Nigeria N600 million monthly over the last two years.

"It’s named the D-banj’s list. He actually denied the list when he was interrogated by our officials. That’s the reason he wasn’t released as planned."