The Nigerian Police on Thursday, January 25 arrested a son and daughter of popular Nigerian actor John Ikechukwu Okafor, better known as Mr. Ibu.
The Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCID) in Ikoyi, Lagos State disclosed that the arrest was in connection with an alleged defrauding of the sum of N55 million donations made to the actor while he was sick.
Oyeabuchi Daniel Okafor is accused to have conspired with the adopted daughter of Mr. Ibu, Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu.
The FCID in a statement on Thursday said the arrest follows a petition received from Diamond Waves Law on behalf of the actor’s wife, Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, alleging that his two sons conspired with his adopted daughter, Jasmine, to defraud their father.
“On 6th September, 2023, a petition was received from Diamond Waves Law on behalf of Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor wherein one Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor, Valentine Okafor, both of whom are sons of Mr. John Ikechukwu Okafor (Alias Ibu) and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu were alleged to have conspired to defraud Mr. Ibu while being on sick bed.
“Investigation into the case established that as part of efforts to fund his medical bills, Mr. Ibu launched a public fund-raising initiative and attracted donations from his fans, entertainment industry players, and other well-spirited members of the public into a bank account which he publicized and dedicated for the purpose
Police investigation revealed that Mr. Ibu’s wife, Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor was initially managing the funds to be used to pay the medical bills. However, Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu manipulated the wife and took control of the phone which had the bank account and hacked the account and its details.
Spokesperson for the police, ASP Mayegun Aminat, explained that the duo reinstalled the banking app on Daniel Okafor’s phone and transferred the sum of N55m from the donations made for the actor’s medical bill.
Police say the culprits had already arranged a sham marriage and had applied for UK visas to leave the country.
“They thereafter re-installed the mobile banking applications of Mr. Ibu on the phone of Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor preparatory to the perfection of their preconceived fraudulent plans and wiped off the banking applications originally installed on Mr. Ibu’s phone, thereby, taking direct and full charge of banking activities of Mr. Ibu in relation to the funds being donated by members of the public in support of his medicals,” the police noted.
Forensic analysis revealed that a total amount of fifty-five million naira was criminally transferred from Mr. Ibu’s fundraising account to the personal account of Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor.
However, police have managed to recover an amount of fifty million naira from the suspects with the remainingfive million naira has already been used by the duo.
“On the strength of evidence, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor, and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu have been charged to the Chief Magistrate Court 1, Yaba in Charge No. A/06/2024 for conspiracy and stealing.”
Both have since been granted bail in the sum of N15m with two sureties The case has been adjourned to March 11, 2024.
Meanwhile the casefile has been forwarded to the Office of Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
Source: 3news
