The federal ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development says it reported the alleged fraud in the N-Power programme to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation.
On Tuesday, D’banj, the singer, was detained by the ICPC — a few weeks after he was summoned by the commission.
The ICPC confirmed he is under investigation for allegedly diverting funds released for the N-Power project.
In 2016, the federal government initiated the N-Power project to address the country’s unemployment challenges.
It was alleged that the stipends meant for beneficiaries of the initiative were paid to accounts linked to D’banj.
In a statement, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the permanent secretary of the ministry, said there have been some discrepancies in the payment processes of N-Power beneficiaries.
Sani-Gwarzo also disclosed that “the sharp practices were carried out by some personnel of the payment service provider,” hence the need to invite the ICPC for investigation.
When it came to our notice that there may have been some sharp practices by some personnel of the Payment Service Provider involved in the payment processes of beneficiaries, the matter was immediately referred to ICPC for a thorough investigation,” the statement reads in part.
“We are aware that certain persons have consequently been invited for interrogation as part of the ongoing investigations.”
The musician had earlier denied the fraud allegations against him.
“For the record, D’banj has no such contractual or incidental relationship whatsoever with any group or persons within or outside government in relation to the disbursement, operations, access, or control of the operation of any government fund through an agency or its subsidiaries,” he said in a statement by Maryam El-Yakub Musa, his counsel.
Emphatically and as a matter of policy, Dbanj and his management do not engage in business dealings unless they are legitimate, properly documented, and obtainable in law.”