By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
On Thursday, the Nigeria Police Force have arrested two children of Mr John Okafor popularly nicknamed Mr Ibu
The police said the children stole over N50m donated by the public to revive their father.
Mr Ibu has been on hospital admission due to ill health.
The police arrested Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu, son and daughter of the ailing actor.
The police claim that the two children could not account for N50m, proceeds from donations meant for the actor’s medical expenses.
The Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Alagbon, located in Ikoyi, Lagos State, named Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu as conspiring to steal the money.
The family of the ailing actor early notified the public in October last year that Mr. Ibu had undergone five surgeries.
He was said to be seeking further medical treatment abroad and needed funds.
The family also claimed to have received donations from sympathisers.
In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Mayegun Amina, the Force made available to Irohinoodua said the arrest was prompted by a petition from Diamond Waves Law on behalf of the actor’s wife, Stella Okafor.
The petition claimed that Mr. Ibu’s children conspired to defraud the actor.
The Force said that the suspects had hacked the thespian’s phone to execute the crime.
The FCID is going to press charges actions against Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu based on the evidence gathered.
The renowned Nigerian actor Mr. John Ikechukwu Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu, fell victim to a fraudulent conspiracy orchestrated by his sons and daughter, Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor, Valentine Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu, the police said.
Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma Okekeagwu were said to have manipulated Mrs. Stella Maris, gaining control of Mr. Ibu’s phone and hacking into his banking details.
They were said to have re-installed the mobile banking applications on Onyeabuchi Daniel Okafor’s phone, wiping out the original applications on Mr. Ibu’s phone which gave them complete control over the funds raised for Mr. Ibu’s medical expenses.
The police forensic investigation was said to have led to the discovery of the illicit transfers.