Nigeria police arrests Mr Ibu’s son, adopted daughter over N55m fraud

The Nigerian Police, through its Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCID), Alagbon, in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has disclosed the arrest of Oyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu for conspiring and defrauding Mr John Ikechukwu Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu of the sum of N55 million.

The FCID in a press release on Thursday, disclosed that the department acted on a petition received from Diamond Waves Law on behalf 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,” the Police said.

Continuing, the FCID Spokesperson, ASP Mayegun Aminat, explained how the duo reinstalled the banking app on the phone belonging to Okafor and transferred the sum of N55m from the donations for the actor’s medical bill. According to the Police, the duo Okafor 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.