Mr Ibu’s children arrested for diverting funds

On Thursday, January 25, 2024, the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCID), Alagbon, released a statement revealing that police operatives in Ikoyi, Lagos State had arrested the children of Nollywood actor John Okafor, better known as Mr Ibu.

The two sons, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Valentine Okafor, and an adopted daughter, Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu, were accused of conspiring to defraud their father for donations made towards his medical treatment while he was sick.

Initially, Mr. Ibu’s wife, Mrs Stella Maris Chinyere Okafor, managed the funds to pay for his medical bills and support the family. However, the sons and daughter manipulated her and took control of Mr. Ibu’s phone, hacking into his banking details.

They then re-installed the mobile banking applications of Mr Ibu on Daniel’s phone and wiped off the banking applications originally installed on Mr Ibu’s phone, taking direct and full charge of banking activities of Mr Ibu to the funds donated by members of the public to support his medical treatment.

At the time of their arrest, they were found to have diverted N55 million and squandered an additional N5 million on questionable transactions.

The accused were granted bail in the sum of N15 million with two sureties in like sum, and the case was adjourned to 11th March 2024. The case file has been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.