The Nigerian Police, operating through its Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCID) in Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos State, has announced the apprehension of Oyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu.
They were arrested on charges
of conspiring and defrauding John Ikechukwu Okafor, also known as Mr. Ibu, of
the sum of N55 million.
In a press release issued on
Thursday, the FCID revealed that it had acted upon a petition submitted by
Diamond Waves Law on behalf of the actor’s wife, Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor.
The petition alleged that two
sons of Mr. Ibu, in collaboration with his adopted daughter, Jasmine, conspired
to defraud their father.
“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.
“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 publicized and dedicated for the
purpose. Mr. Ibu’s wife, Mrs Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, was initially
managing the funds to defray Mr. Ibu’s medical bills 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 said.
The FCID Spokesperson, ASP
Mayegun Aminat, elaborated on how the duo reinstalled the banking app on
Okafor’s phone and transferred N55 million from donations intended for the
actor’s medical expenses.
The Police revealed that Okafor
and Jasmine had orchestrated a sham marriage at the Ikoyi registry and had also
applied for visas to depart the country.
“They
thereafter re-installed the mobile banking applications of Mr. Ibu on the phone
of Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor preparatory to the perfection of their preconceived
fraudulent plans and wiped off the banking applications originally installed on
Mr. Ibu’s phone, thereby, taking direct and full charge of banking activities
of Mr. Ibu in relation to the funds being donated by members of the public in
support of his medicals.
“Through
this fraudulent act, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu
started transferring funds from Mr. Ibu’s public fundraising account to
Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor’s personal bank with forensic analysis of their
illicit financial dealing establishing that a total of fifty five million naira
(=N=55M) has been successfully and criminally transferred prior to their arrest
and investigation.
“Investigation
also unearthed text messages via WhatsApp between Jasmine Chioma and Daniel
Okafor detailing in stage-by-stage how they conspired and hatched their
criminal plans. It was also established that the two suspects, Jasmine Chioma
Okekeagwu and Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor, 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 a UK
Visa in furtherance to this plan prior to their arrest,” the
statement added.
The FCID announced that a sum
of N50 million has been recovered from the suspects. Additionally, they
disclosed that both individuals have been charged at the Chief Magistrate Court
1, Yaba, under Charge No. A/06/2024 for conspiracy and stealing.
“During
investigation, the stolen fifty-five million naira (=N=55M) was traced to the
Bank Account of Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor wherein it was discovered that they
had squandered a total of five million naira (=N=5M) on questionable
transactions, while the balance total of fifty million (=N=50M) has been
recovered from him.
“On
the strength of evidence, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu
have been charged to the Chief Magistrate Court 1, Yaba, in Charge No.
A/06/2024 for conspiracy and stealing. They were granted bail in the sum of =N=
15m with two sureties in like sum while the case was adjourned to 11th March,
2024. Meanwhile, the case file has been forwarded to the Office of the Director
of Public Prosecution for legal advice.” The statement concluded.
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