Musician Willingly Submitted Himself For Interrogation, Not Guilty Of Accusations, Clarifies Lawyer

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday, December 7, confirmed the arrest and detention of Oladipo Daniel Oyebanjo, otherwise known by his stage name, D’Banj, over the investigation of fraud associated with the N-Power programme.

  The N-Power is a scheme established by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 8, 2016 to address the issues of youth unemployment and empowerment and help increase social development.

  In its statement on Wednesday afternoon, the ICPC said: “In line with its mandate, the Commission had received numerous petitions on the diversion of N-Power funds running into billions of naira following the approval and release of such funds to the beneficiaries by the federal government. Many N-Power beneficiaries had complained over the non-receipt of the monthly funds in spite of payment by government.

  “About 10 persons have been invited by the ICPC over the last few months in connection with the N-Power fraud and have been granted administrative bail after their detention. Several invitations to Mr. Oladipo Daniel Oyebanjo (D’banj) to appear before a team of investigators were ignored and not honoured.

  “Mr. Oyebanjo (D’banj) turned in himself and was taken into custody at the ICPC Headquarters on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, and is currently assisting the investigators to unravel the circumstances of the fraud allegations by the petitioners.

  “The investigation will be all-encompassing and also be extended to other collaborators of the fraud and the banks where the beneficiaries’ accounts are domiciled.

  “This press release has become necessary to set the record straight in view of the reports awash in the media. The investigation is ongoing and the Commission prefers not to preempt its outcome and also avoid the frenzy of a media trial.

  But Counsel to Dbanji said the musician willingly submitted himself for interrogation and was not guilty of the accusations alleged by the ICPC.

  Recall that the ICPC had earlier on Wednesday, confirmed the arrest of the Oliver Twist crooner, saying he was brought in after snubbing several invitations by the ICPC to be interrogated by a team of investigators.

  The ICPC said the investigations will be all-encompassing and also be extended to other collaborators of the fraud and the banks where the beneficiaries’ accounts are domiciled.

  However, Assistant Team Head, Litigation, Law Corridor, Maryat Musa, in a statement on Wednesday, December 7, rose in defence of D’Banj, saying the musician only engaged in legitimate businesses.

 As a matter of policy, D’banj and his management do not engage in business dealings, unless they are legitimate, properly documented and obtainable in law.

“Dbanj was officially invited by the ICPC in respect of the investigation a month ago, he sent in letters through his attorneys to the commission in respect of his schedule in South Africa and promised to visit the Commission when he returned.

  “On Monday, December 5, 2022, D’banj freely and of his law-abiding accord went to the Commission at about 2pm immediately he arrived Abuja. The Officers of the Commission advised that he returned the following day as it was late for any interview on said Monday.

“D’banj returned to the Commission the following day being Tuesday the 6th of December, 2022 as earlier agreed and voluntarily submitted himself to the Commission to make their inquiry and investigation.”

According to Musa, D’banj encouraged the Commission to carry out its investigation thoroughly to ensure that characters attempting to bring him into “ridiculous” activities are brought to book.

  “It is inconceivable that D’banj whose very career is a reference point for hard work, diligence and honesty would lend his reputation built steadfastly over the years to acts of such accusations which he must now stoically suffer through while clearing his name.

  “The general public are advised to resist the urge to buy into media sensationalism, which is unsurprising, but regardless harmful to the course for the truth, which D’banj has willing set himself on by honouring the ICPC’s summons,” the lawyer said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced the auction of 435 cars, which are subjects of final forfeiture orders in Lagos, in line with the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004; Public Procurement Act 2007 and the Proceeds of Crimes (Recovery and Management) Act 2022.

  EFCC, in a statement by its Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on Wednesday, December 7, said: “The exercise scheduled to take place across the Commands of the Commission, started on December 6, 2022 in Lagos, with inspection of items by members of the public, while the auction exercise began.

  “The items are available in four locations- 40, Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; 14 Cameroon Road, Ikoyi Lagos and CVU Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos.

  “Speaking during the opening ceremony yesterday, Dr. George Ekpungu, Secretary to the Commission and Chairman, EFCC Asset Disposal Committee (ADC), noted that the exercise, which is the first of the planned auction of forfeited properties across EFCC Zonal Commands and EFCC Headquarters, is being carried out in accordance with the (Establishment) Act, 2004, Public Procurement Act, 2007 and Proceeds of Crimes (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.

  “It is being conducted in conjunction with the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Procurement to ensure compliance with all extant laws. While welcoming the auctioneers to the centre, he expressed his gratitude to sister agencies, including the Nigerian Army, who were invited to provide adequate security and ensure orderliness.

  “Ekpungu also appealed to the members of the public present at the auction to listen carefully to the auctioneers and comply with all stipulated guidelines.

  “The nine auctioneers, who were allocated to the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC to dispose of the 435 cars at designated Centre on 14 Cameron Road, Ikoyi, Lagos are Rihanna Auction Limited; Kamyus Consult Limited; Areogun Resources Limited; BIS N JEG; Integrated Services Nig. Ltd; Mau & Sons Ltd.; Langar Aghaji & Co.; Fagobe Company Ltd and Musa Kira and Co. 

“The cars, which pictures were conspicuously displayed with allocated lot numbers for public inspection, were allocated to auctioneers based on assessed values and open ballot system.

By Godwin Ijediogor, Asaba

ON a lighter mood with lawyer and philanthropist, Prince Ned Nwoko, at his Idumuje-Ugboko country home in Delta State last weekend, the politician, who is contesting the Delta North senatorial election, spoke on some family issues, especially about men from the southern part of the country not marrying more than one wife, thereby pushing some women into prostitution, among others.

  Talking about him and the Ooni of Ife having many wives, Nwoko said: “Let me tell you the similarity between me and the Ooni of Ife, apart from both of us having more than one wife, my grandfather and his grandfather were both in the House of Chiefs in the Old Western Region in the 1950s. They were part of the select few that went to London for the constitutional conferences.
  “My grandfather and the Ooni’s grandfather and the then Olowo of Owo took many photographs together. So, the Ooni and I have that kind of common background, because our grandfathers were kings and served Nigeria in that capacity. And we are now also serving Nigeria by having many wives (laughter).”
  Asked if he lives with all his wives or if they live in different, separate places, Nwoko replied: “No, no, no! That’s why when I was taking you round the palace, I said if it were in those days, I would have showed you some rooms where my wives would have been living. But my wives are big women too, in their own rights.

  “So, they have their different homes. Two are in New York, in the United States (US), two are here in Nigeria and two are in Dubai. But sometimes, they meet here; here is the meeting point,” he said.

  How then does he bond with his children living in different places and the children among themselves too? Nwoko explained: “Apart from all of us meeting here sometimes, I don’t travel with my wives together; I travel with one wife at a time. It’s only like once it happened that I travelled with Regina and Laila. But normally, I travel with the kids, the younger kids.
   “I have 19 children now. My first child is 30 years old. Those with my first wife are all graduates now. In fact, my last child with her made a First Class last year in England. So, they are on their own; they are independent and go on holidays with their friends, not even with me or their mother who is a lawyer.
  “My second wife is into business.”

  Asked if all his wives are still with him, he said, “Of course, yes. It was only Laila that I had issues with when she went on holiday in London, but we are back together again; we are ok now.”
  On his favourite wife, Nwoko explained: “Of course, the favourite is always going to be the last or latest wife (which is Regina). That’s a natural thing. You know it’s like if you have a new shirt, that is going to be your favourite one.”

  Meanwhile, it would appear that Nwoko likes them fair, but not really, as he explained that his first wife is the same colour as him.

Though Nwoko’s first and second wives, and even his children, don’t like social media, it was Regina that actually introduced social media to him, “Am just tagging along,” he noted, adding, “It’s only Instagram that I use, which she opened for me, and of course, I have always known Whatsapp. I seldom post things on Instagram, but I have about 530 followers. I don’t do Facebook and it was only last week that I began to think of doing Twitter.”

  On how he copes with trolling on social media, he recalled: “Sometimes, people post that I am marrying this girl or that girl, even when I don’t even know who they are talking about.”
  Nwoko strongly believes men who refuse to marry more than one wife contribute to immorality in society, especially in the south, saying: “Many women are out there on their own without husbands, especially in the southern part of the country, and there is a high level of prostitution. What some of our girls do to make ends meet is regrettable and if our men emulate their northern counterparts by having more than one wife, that could probably change the situation.

  “The average southern may have only one wife, but many girlfriends also, and he is spending his money on the girlfriends; sometimes even more than on his wife. The man who has three wives, for instance, concentrates on them and his children; every money he makes is spent on the family and he is more likely not to have any girlfriends or concubines. The money those with several girlfriends spend on them is a gift, not an investment in the family.”

  He continued: “Beyond that, I hear southerners complain, saying how could the north, which is semi-desert and arid, be more populated than the south that is rainforest, with oceans, etc. But the answer is simply that the southerners are marrying one wife and giving birth to an average of four children, while the average northerner marries four wives and has up to 20 children.

  “So, the south may never catch up with the north, in terms of population. We deceive ourselves by saying they are counting cows and cattle, which is not true, because they are actually counting human beings, their children from their wives.

  “All you can now do is, if there is any law that stops you from marrying wives, it should be relaxed so that you can behave like your grandfathers and great-grandfathers who were very strong men before the advent of the whites, who came and told you it should be one man, one wife.”
  On single parent, which is becoming popular among ladies now, he said: “It’s because of men who leave them and do not take care of them. If most of us in the south marry four wives, there will almost not be any prostitution business anymore, because they will be at home as wives.”
  Asked what would happen when the man is unable to cater for them, he explained, “Look, I have drivers from the north who have wives. Are they, for example, earning more than you? Here in the south, some men have money to take girlfriends out and cater for them, but they don’t want to marry them as wives.”

  As for Regina’s contribution to his campaign, he said: “I don’t really know, but we are both Anioma son and daughter seeking votes from Anioma people. So, it makes sense to go around together asking our people to give us their support. Probably that’s the difference between her and my other wives, especially as far as campaigning for political office is concerned.”

(Culled from Nigeria’s The Guardian)

ANAMBRA State Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, on Friday, December 2, presented appointment letters to 5,000 newly recruited teachers in the state.

  The governor, while presenting the appointment letters to the teachers in Awka, the state capital, said the future of youths of Anambra lie in the hand of teachers, adding that the exercise was in fulfillment of one of the components of his manifesto, which was repositioning the education sector for quality manpower development.

  Soludo stated: “Today, we are keeping one of our promises; we promised to position Anambra as a centre of excellence for human capital development and proactively leapfrog our students/youths as Africa’s digital tribe.

  “We have come to end the era of schools without teachers in our primary and secondary schools with the recruitment and deployment of 5,000 new teachers. It marks yet another milestone in Anambra’s bold march towards a liveable and prosperous smart mega city, one that is the preferred destination to live, learn, work, invest, relax and enjoy.

  “My fellow teachers, the future of our children and the next generation is in your hands. Anambra, the Light of the Nation, is known for excellence.”

  The governor expressed happiness with the process of the recruitment, but pointed out that no exercise of such magnitude would go without some complaints, noting that it was a near perfect process designed from the outset to be unique, transparent with integrity.

  He added: “My instruction was that only merit can get anyone a placement in the recruitment exercise, the phenomenon of well-placed persons being giving ‘slots’ to nominate candidates for recruitment should never happen.

  “To demonstrate my commitment to this, I instructed that even if I were to give them any name(s) for employment, they should throw such away. Teaching is not just a job; it is a vocation and no one should be employed as a teacher on any consideration other than merit.

  “We should never in good conscience sacrifice the future of a generation on the altar of favoritism, and state of origin was not a disqualifying factor. Our children need the best teachers, irrespective of where they come from.”

  The governor congratulated the newly recruited teachers, including candidates from the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) for being among the best out of the over 40,000 applicants, saying those without prior teaching qualification would be made to pass through intensive training that would serve as Anambra’s teacher certification standard.

  “Let me suggest that educating our next generation is our collective responsibility, Public-Community- Private Partnership (PCPP) is the winning model for the future,” he said.