Police arrest Actor John Okafor's Son And Adopted Daughter For Pilfering Donations

Actor John ‘Mr. Ibu’ Okafor

Police detain the adopted daughter and son of actor John Okafor for stealing N55 million from his donations

Oyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu were taken into custody by police in Ikoyi, Lagos State, on suspicion of defrauding actor John Okafor, also known as Mr. Ibu, of N55 million.

This was revealed in a statement released on Thursday, January 25, 2024 by the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCID), Alagbon.

In the statement, ASP Mayegun Aminat, the FCID spokesperson, stated: “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.

An investigation into the case revealed that Mr. Ibu started a public fund-raising campaign to help pay for his medical bills. He solicited donations from his fans, prominent figures in the entertainment industry, and other kind-hearted members of the public, and he publicized and dedicated the account for this purpose.

Initially, Mr. Ibu's wife, Mrs. Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, was in charge of overseeing the money to pay for Mr. Ibu's medical expenses and support the family. But later on, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu stole Mr. Ibu's phone and stole the banking information from Mrs. Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor.

Through this fraudulent act, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu began moving money to Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor's personal bank from Mr. Ibu's public fundraising account. A forensic analysis of their illicit financial dealings revealed that, before their arrest and investigation, a total of fifty-five million naira had been successfully and criminally transferred.

Investigations also uncovered WhatsApp texts between Jasmine Chioma and Daniel Okafor, which provided a step-by-step account of their criminal plot development and conspiracy.

Also See: Why We Haven't Flown Him Aboard For Advance Treatment — Actor John Okafor's Family

The Ikoyi Marriage Registry revealed that Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu and Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor, the two suspects, had arranged a fictitious marriage with the intention of fleeing the nation and settling in the UK with their stolen wealth. Before they were arrested, they had already applied for a UK visa in order to carry out this plan.

Mrs. Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, John ‘Mr. Ibu’ Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu

Investigation revealed that the five million naira that had been pilfered on dubious transactions was the source of the five million naira that had been recovered from Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor's bank account, where the remaining fifty million naira had been found.

Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu have been charged with conspiracy and theft in Chief Magistrate Court 1, Yaba, under Charge No. A/06/2024, based on the strength of the evidence. 

Their case was postponed until March 11, 2024, and they were given bail in the amount of N15 million with two sureties in the same amount. For legal counsel, the casefile has been sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in the interim.