Detectives at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Alagbion, Ikoyi, Lagos, have found N50 million that was purportedly taken out of the compromised bank account of Mr. John Okafor, a popularly known as Mr. Ibu, an ailing Nollywood star.
As a result, Onyebuchi Okafor, the son of Mr. Ibu, and Jasmine Okekeagwu, his lover, were also taken into custody.
They were then accused of stealing and conspiring in court.
The arrest came about as a result of a September 6, 2023, petition that Diamond Waves Law filed on behalf of Mr. Ibu’s wife, Stella Maris Okafor, according to FCID spokesperson ASP Mayegun Aminat.
The suit claimed that Valentine and Daniel Okafor, the sons of Mr. Ibu, and Jasmine Okekeagwu plotted to swindle Mr. Ibu.
As per her account, the inquiry disclosed that Mr. Ibu launched a public fundraising campaign to cover his medical expenses, which drew contributions from the general public, entertainment industry participants, and fans.
The money for family support and medical expenses was initially overseen by Mr. Ibu’s wife, Mrs. Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor.
However, Aminat claimed that Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu had tricked Mrs. Stella Maris Okafor into giving them access to Mr. Ibu’s phone and banking information.
She gave an explanation of how the two gained access to Mr. Ibu’s mobile banking apps, deleted the old ones, installed a new one on Daniel Okafor’s phone, and started making unauthorized transfers from the public fundraising account to Daniel Okafor’s personal bank account.
Prior to their apprehension, N55 million was allegedly transferred illegally
The remaining N50 million was successfully recovered, she said, after forensic investigation linked the pilfered money to Onyeabuchi Okafor’s account and revealed that N5 million had been used on dubious activities.
Investigations also revealed that Jasmine Okekeagwu and Onyeabuchi Okafor, the two suspects, had gotten married in a sham marriage at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry with the intention of fleeing the nation and settling in the United Kingdom with their stolen money.
Prior to their detention, they had previously applied for a UK visa in order to carry out the plot.
Jasmine Chioma and Daniel Okafor’s WhatsApp texts, which described their criminal schemes in detail, were also discovered during the inquiry.
The Chief Magistrates Court 1, Yaba has charged Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu; the case has been postponed to March 11, 2024.