Afrobeats superstar, Dapo Oyebanjo, aka D’banj, has been cleared of rape and N-power fraud allegations by the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, respectively.
In separate documents exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Friday, the police and the anti-graft agency gave the singer a clean slate in separate clearance reports upon completion of investigations with incontrovertible outcomes on the innocence of the singer.
In an affidavit deposed by Toheeb Lawal of Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, before District Court of Abuja, wherein the reports of the NPF investigation, and clearance from the ICPC were exhibited and marked exhibits A and B, the legal practitioner averred that the police and the ICPC cleared the singer of rape and fraud allegations.
Recall that the singer, in 2020, was accused of rape and the Inspector General of Police ordered an investigation into the allegation.
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 report read in part, “The allegation was investigated.
The complainant, witnesses and suspects made their statement. Investigation was extended to the Glee Hotel Lagos, where the staff on duty on the date of the alleged incident, made their statement.
“The management and staff of the Glee Hotel averred that the first suspect was not seen in the hotel on the date of the alleged incident, neither was he given a spare key to gain access to any room in the hotel, where the complainant lodged, and they have only one key to each room, which completely debunked the allegation of the complainant. The management of the hotel also held that it had no record to show that complainant checked into the hotel as a guest on the alleged date and she did not at any time, raise alarm, complain or report any indecent, assault or rape.
“There is no medical report on the victim to ascertain that she was raped. 4There is no adduced facts and corroborative evidence to substantiate the allegation of rape against the suspect. Prima-facie offences of Indecent Assault, Rape and Intimidation is not made out.
“However, the complainant, through her counsel, Ojoge, Omileye & Partners, submitted a later dated 17th July, 2020, to the DIG Force CID, to voluntarily withdraw the petition and discontinue the investigation.”
Also, sometimes late 2022, the ICPC accused D’banj of diversion funds associated with the N-Power Programme of the Federal Government.
However, after its investigation, the ICPC said that D’banj was not guilty of any fraud allegation. In a 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 offence,” the ICPC clearance partly read.
D’Banj’s 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.
