Police also said a sum of N50 million has been recovered from the suspects, adding that they have been charged to court
By Kehinde Okeowo
Police have confirmed the arrest of Oyeabuchi Okafor, the son of popular comic actor, John Okafor, better known as Mr. Ibu and his adopted daughter, Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu for conspiring and defrauding him of the sum of N55 million.
In October 2023, the family of the ailing thespian revealed that he had undergone five surgeries, seeking for further treatment abroad and appreciating donations from his fans.
But the police in a statement on Thursday, disclosed that its officers from Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCID), Alagbon, in Ikoyi, Lagos State have arrested the actor’s son and daughter.
FCID also said police acted on a petition from lawyers of the actor’s wife, Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, alleging that two sons of Mr. Ibu 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. Mr. Ibu’s wife, Mrs Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor was initially managing the funds to defray the medical bills of Mr. Ibu and sustain the family. However, along the line, the duo of Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu manipulated Mrs Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, took possession of Mr. Ibu’s phone, and hacked into the banking details therein,” police said.
Spokesperson of FCID, ASP Mayegun Aminat, went on to explain how the duo reinstalled the banking app on the phone belonging to the actor and transferred the sum of N55m from the donations for this medical bill.
She further claimed the duo of Onyeabuchi and Jasmine already had a sham marriage at Ikoyi registry, and had applied for 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.
“Through this fraudulent act, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu started transferring funds from Mr. Ibu’s public fundraising account to Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor’s personal bank with forensic analysis of their illicit financial dealing establishing that a total of fifty five million naira (=N=55M) has been successfully and criminally transferred prior to their arrest” the FCID added.
Police also said a sum of N50 million has been recovered, adding that the suspects have been charged at the Chief Magistrate Court 1, Yaba in Charge No. A/06/2024 for conspiracy and stealing.
Meanwhile, Mr Ibu’s adopted daughter, Jasmine Okafor, has reportedly responded to the news of her arrest.
Speaking after the news of her incarceration made the round on social media, Jasmine quoted by Legit said: “Wrong figures; it was actually 1 billion ooh ! Unna mind go touch ground.
“Responding live from kiri kiri.”
