Mr. Ibu's son, adopted daughter arrested for stealing N50million donation money; planned fake marriage to escape abroad

The Nigeria Police Force announced on Thursday that it apprehended the son and adopted daughter of Mr. John Okafor, also known as Mr. Ibu, on charges of stealing N50 million, which were donations intended for the actor's ailing health. The arrest was made by the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

According to a statement from the Force, Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu allegedly conspired to commit the crime. In October 2023, the family revealed that Mr. Ibu had undergone multiple surgeries and sought donations from fans to cover medical expenses.

The arrest followed a petition from Diamond Waves Law, representing the actor's wife, Stella Okafor, who accused Mr. Ibu's two sons and his adopted daughter of defrauding him. The investigation revealed that the suspects hacked Mr. Ibu's phone to carry out the crime.

The statement explained that Mr. Ibu initiated a public fundraising initiative for his medical bills, and his wife managed the funds. However, Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu allegedly manipulated Mrs Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, took control of Mr. Ibu's phone, and hacked into his banking details.

The police claimed that the suspects reinstalled the banking app on Mr. Ibu's phone, transferred N55 million from the medical fund, and wiped off the original banking applications. The Force stated that they recovered the stolen amount.

Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu, according to the police, had planned a sham marriage and intended to escape to the UK with the proceeds. They were charged with conspiracy and stealing at the Chief Magistrate Court 1, Yaba.

During the investigation, N55 million was traced to Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor's account, with N5 million spent on questionable transactions. The remaining N50 million was recovered. The suspects were granted bail, and the case was adjourned to March 11, 2024, with the case file forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

Reports indicate that there has been a family feud, with Mr. Ibu's wife accusing the adopted daughter, Jazmine, of misusing the donated funds. The wife expressed her intent to address the interference in family affairs at the appropriate time, emphasizing the importance of her husband's health for now.