Ailing veteran Nollywood actor, Mr Ibu’s son, daughter, Onyebuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu, are in big trouble as they have been arrested for stealing N55 million fund donations for the actor’s medical expenses.
According to reports, detectives at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbion, Ikoyi, Lagos, have recovered N50 million allegedly withdrawn from the hacked bank account of Mr. John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu.
The spokesperson for the FCID, ASP Mayegun Aminat disclosed that the arrest of Onyebuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu was carried out following a petition by Mr. Ibu’s wife, Stella Maris through her lawyers, Diamond Waves Law dated September 6, 2023.
Aminat said; “The petition alleged that Mr. Ibu’s sons, Daniel and Valentine Okafor, along with Jasmine Okekeagwu, conspired to defraud Mr. Ibu.”
“Investigation revealed that as part of the effort to fund Mr. Ibu’s medical bills, he initiated a public fundraising initiative that attracted donations from fans, entertainment industry players, and the public.”
“Mrs. Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, Mr. Ibu’s wife, initially managed the funds for medical bills and family support.”
“However, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu allegedly manipulated Mrs. Stella Maris Okafor, gaining access to Mr. Ibu’s phone and hacking into his banking details.”
“The duo took control of Mr. Ibu’s mobile banking applications, wiped off the original applications, installed a new one on Daniel Okafor’s mobile and initiated fraudulent transfers from the public fundraising account to Daniel Okafor’s personal bank account.”
“A total of N55 million have been criminally transferred before their arrest.”
“Forensic analysis traced the stolen funds to Onyeabuchi Okafor’s account, where it was discovered that N5 million had been spent on questionable transactions, while the remaining N50 million was successfully recovered.”
“It was also established through investigations that the two suspects, Jasmine Okekeagwu and Onyeabuchi Okafor had a sham marriage at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry with plans to escape from the country to the United Kingdom, where they intended to settle with their proceeds of crime.”
“They already applied for a UK Visa in furtherance to the plan before their arrest.”
“The investigation also uncovered text messages via WhatsApp between Jasmine Chioma and Daniel Okafor detailing stage-by-stage how they conspired and hatched their criminal plans.”
“Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu have been charged to the Chief Magistrates Court 1, Yaba, with the case adjourned to March 11, 2024.”
“Both were granted bail in the sum of N15 million with two sureties in like sum.”
“The case file has been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.”