The Federal Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigerian Police Force located in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has arrested Oyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu for allegedly conspiring and defrauding Mr. John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu, of N55 million.
The FCID, in a press release issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, ASP Mayegun Aminat, stated that they acted on a petition filed by Diamond Waves Law on behalf of Mr. Ibu’s wife, Stella, stating that the actor’s sons, Onyeabuchi and Valentine Okafor, as well as his adopted daughter, Jasmine Okekeagwu, conspired to defraud Mr. Ibu.
“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.” the statement partly reads.
According to Mayegun, the actor’s wife, Stella-Maris, was initially managing the funds to defray the medical bills of her husband and sustain their family.
“However, along the line, the duo of Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu manipulated Mrs Okafor, took possession of the actor’s phone and hacked into the banking details.
“They, thereafter, re-installed the mobile banking applications of the actor on the phone of Onyeabuchi Okafor preparatory to the perfection of their preconceived fraudulent plans, and wiped off the banking applications originally installed on the actor’s phone.
“They, thereby, took direct and full charge of banking activities of the actor in relation to the funds being donated by members of the public in support of his medical care,” she said.
Mayegun added that through the alleged fraudulent act, Onyeabuchi and Okekeagwu started transferring funds from Mr. Ibu’s public fund-raising account to Onyeabuchi’s personal bank account.
She alleged that forensic analysis of the duo’s illicit financial dealings established that a total N50 million was successfully and criminally transferred from the account before their arrest.
The spokesperson said that investigation also revealed text message, via WhatsApp, between Onyeabuchi and Okekeagwu detailing, stage-by-stage, how they allegedly conspired and committed the fraud.
“It was also established that the two suspects, Jasmine and Onyeabuchi, had a sham marriage at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry, with plans to escape from the country to the UK, where they intended to settle with their proceeds of crime.
“They already applied for UK Visa in furtherance to this plan, prior to their arrest.
“During investigation, the stolen N50 million was traced to the bank account of Onyeabuchi.
“It was discovered that they had squandered a total of N5 million on questionable transactions, while the balance N50 million was recovered from him.
The official said that the suspects were charged to court on Thursday.
