The federal ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development say it reported the alleged fraud in the N-Power programme to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation.
N-Power is a scheme established in 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari to address the issues of youth unemployment and empowerment, and help increase social development.
it was formerly under the office of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo until the scheme was later moved to the humanitarian ministry.
TalkGlitz reported that Nigeria singer, D’banj was arrested, and detained by the ICPC for fraud.
He is accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of thousands of naira from the government meant to empower youths under the N-Power project.
According to reports, D’banj colluded with some government officials to introduce ghost beneficiaries into the payroll of the scheme.
However, in a statement by the Humanitarian Ministry permanent secretary, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, said the ministry had noticed some sharp practices were being carried out by some personnel of the payment service provider, hence it invited 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.”
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