The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday confirmed the arrest of the son and adopted daughter of Mr. John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu, for allegedly stealing the ailing actor’s N50m from his account which fans made donations to pay for his medical bills,
The Force, through its Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Alagbon, in Ikoyi, Lagos State, said the duo of Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu, allegedly conspired to commit the crime.
Mr. Ibu’s family has been in the news for the wrong reasons. His wife, Stella Maris, had gone on Instagram to call out Jasmine, who is Ibu’s adopted daughter.
Stella Maris came online to respond to allegations that she is trying to divert the money donated for Mr Ibu’s treatment to use in funding her lavish lifestyle.
Stella Maris in response to talk that she wants to use the donations to buy an iPhone and a car, said Jasmine is the person behind the rumour.
This comes just one year after Stella Maris publicly disclosed that Jasmine is not Ibu’s biological daughter. She insinuated at the time that Jasmine is Ibu’s girlfriend, a claim that Ibu’s sons from his previous relationship debunked.
The veteran actors sons said that their dad had long adopted Jasmine and they have a good relationship with her.
The FCID, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mayegun Amina, on Thursday, said the arrest followed a petition received from Diamond Waves Law on behalf of the actor’s wife, Stella, alleging that two sons of Mr. Ibu conspired with his adopted daughter, Jasmine, to defraud their sick father.
The statement read, “On September 6, 2023, a petition was received from Diamond Waves Law on behalf of Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, wherein one Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and 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 publicised 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 explained that the duo allegedly reinstalled the banking app on the phone belonging to the actor and transferred the sum of N55m from the donations for the actor’s medical bill with the intention of using the proceeds to travel abroad.
However, the Force also stated that it had recovered a sum of N55m allegedly stolen from the actor’s account.
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