By:Uthman Salami
The Nigeria Police Force claimed on Thursday that a son and adopted daughter of Mr. John Okafor, also known as Mr. Ibu, were arrested for allegedly taking the ailing actor’s N50 million in donations to help with his health.
The Force, through its Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos State, alleges that Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu colluded to perpetrate the crime.
In October 2023, the actor’s family disclosed that he had undergone five surgeries, was seeking more treatment abroad, and was grateful for donations from fans.
However, the FCID, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mayegun Amina, on Thursday, stated that the arrest was made in response to a petition received from Diamond Waves Law on behalf of the actor’s wife, Stella Okafor, alleging that Mr. Ibu’s two sons conspired with his adopted daughter, Jasmine, to defraud him.
According to the Force, investigations revealed that the suspects hacked the thespian’s phone to carry out the crime.
On September 6, 2023, Diamond Waves Law received a petition on behalf of Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, in which one Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Valentine Okafor, both sons of Mr. John Ikechukwu Okafor (Alias Ibu) and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu, were accused of conspiring to defraud Mr. Ibu while he was in the hospital.
“An investigation into the case revealed that, in order to pay his medical bills, Mr. Ibu launched a public fund-raising initiative and solicited donations from his fans, entertainment industry players, and other charitable members of the public into a bank account that he publicized and dedicated to the purpose.
“Mr. Ibu’s wife, Mrs. Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, was initially in charge of managing the funds to pay Mr. Ibu’s medical bills and support the family.” However, along the way, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu misled Mrs. Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, gained control of Mr. Ibu’s phone, and hacked into the financial information contained therein.”
According to the police, the two allegedly reinstalled the banking software on the actor’s phone and transferred N55 million from donations for the actor’s medical cost, intending to use the funds to fly abroad.
However, the Force also claimed to have recovered N55 million purportedly taken from the actor’s account.
It stated, “They then re-installed Mr. Ibu’s mobile banking applications on the phone of Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor in preparation for the completion of their preconceived fraudulent plans and wiped off the banking applications originally installed on Mr. Ibu’s phone, thereby taking direct and full control of Mr. Ibu’s banking activities in relation to the funds donated by members of the public in support of his medicals.
“Through this fraudulent act, Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu began transferring funds from Mr. Ibu’s public fundraising account to Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor’s personal bank, with forensic analysis of their illicit financial dealing revealing that a total of N55 million had been successfully and criminally transferred prior to their arrest and investigation.
“The investigation also uncovered WhatsApp text exchanges between Jasmine and Daniel Okafor that detailed step-by-step how they collaborated and devised their criminal schemes. It was also discovered that the two suspects, Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu and Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor, had a false marriage at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry with the intention of fleeing the nation to the United Kingdom, where they planned to settle with their criminal earnings. Prior to their detention, they had already applied for a UK visa to advance this scheme,” according to the statement.
According to the police, the two have been charged with conspiracy and theft in Charge No. A/06/2024 at Chief Magistrate Court 1, Yaba.
According to the statement, “During the investigation, the stolen fifty-five million naira (N55m) was traced to the bank account of Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor, where it was discovered that they had squandered a total of five million naira (N5m) on questionable transactions, while the balance total of fifty million (N50m) was recovered from him.”
“On the basis of the evidence, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu have been charged with conspiracy and stealing under Charge No. A/06/2024 before Chief Magistrate Court 1, Yaba.
“They were given bail in the amount of N15m with two sureties in the same amount, and the matter was adjourned to March 11, 2024. Meanwhile, the case file has been transferred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal counsel.”
According to reports, the Ibu family was feuding when the actor’s wife claimed that his adopted daughter, Jazmine, had stolen money sent by well-wishers in Nigeria.
In a lengthy post, the actor’s wife wrote in part, “Recently, certain nasty lies have been circulated against me on social media, masterminded by Jazmine Chioma Okeke, who seeks to make me an outsider in my own family, but God forbid. Jazmine’s undue intervention in my family affairs and other similar matters will be addressed when the time comes. For the time being, my primary concern is my husband’s health.
Source:PunchNG
