General News | 28 January 2024 22:56 CET

Mr Ibu's Son And Adopted Daughter Arrested By The Police For Allegedly Stealing Funds Meant For Mr Ibu's Health

By Oluwarantimi Oludase

The son of John Okafor, best known as Mr Ibu has been arrested by the Nigerian Police Force. Oyeabuchi Daniel Okafor, who is the son of Mr Ibu and his adopted sister, Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu have been arrested by the police.

The Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department ( FCID) in Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos State accused Mr Ibu's son, Daniel Okafor and adopted daughter, Jasmine of planning to swindle the veteran actor of N55 million.

Mr Ibu's wife, Stella Maris Chinyere reported her two sons and her adopted daughter and she was represented by the Diamond Waves law. The Diamond Waves law submitted a petition of fraud to the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCID).

The FCID have however, come out to release a statement in response to the petition and have vowed to investigate the matter. The FCID statement reads thus; "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."

The statement further reads; "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 and investigation.

Investigation also unearthed text messages via WhatsApp between Jasmine Chioma and Daniel Okafor detailing in stage-by-stage how they conspired and hatched their criminal plans. It was also established that the two suspects, Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu and Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor had a sham marriage at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry with plans to escape from the country to UK where they intended to settle with their proceeds of crime. They already applied for a UK Visa in furtherance to this plan prior to their arrest.”

The FCID also revealed that the sum of N50 million has been recovered from the suspects and the statement reads thus; "During investigation, the stolen fifty-five million naira (=N=55M) was traced to the Bank Account of Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor wherein it was discovered that they had squandered a total of five million naira (=N=5M) on questionable transactions, while the balance total of fifty million (=N=50M) has been recovered from him.

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. They were granted bail in the sum of =N= 15m with two sureties in like sum while case was adjourned to 11th March, 2024. Meanwhile the casefile has been forwarded to the Office of Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice,”

It is believed that more details will soon be revealed about the case as investigations are ongoing.

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