The news of the arrest of Oladapo Oyebanji (aka D’Banj) by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has continued to generate reactions from cross section of Nigerians on and off social media spaces.
According to news reports, the musician was arrested and detained on Tuesday, December 6, after ICPC operatives closed in on him, forcing him to surrender himself at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
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The ICPC accuesed the pop star of fraudulently diverting funds earmarked by the Nigerian government for N-Power projects, an empowerment programme set up in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.
Nigerians recall that the scheme was initially coordinated under the Office of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) when it was set up in 2016.
While the Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) were managed under the Vice President’s office, Nigerians on social media said the schemes were adequately and efficiently managed devoid of corruption.
The SIPs, the largest in Africa, received laud commendations from international development institutions like the World Bank and United Nations.
In 2019, the Nigerian government established the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to coordinate the SIPs.
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According to Chika A. Michael, on his Facebook page in response to D’Banj’s arrest, said “N-Power that Osinbajo was managing well, they hijacked it. When Osinbajo was in charge, it was going smoothly not until it was handed over to ndu ohi.”
Solomon Amedu, on his part, said “Osinbajo did a great job with N-Power and even as acting president. Nigeria would have been much better if Osinbajo was in charge.”
ICPC has said it will prosecute the singer for syphoning N-Power funds for personal use.