Popular Nigerian Actor John Okafor’s Children Arrested for Alleged Fraud

Two children of Nigerian actor John Okafor, famously known as Mr Ibu, have been arrested by the police in Lagos for allegedly stealing funds raised for the actor’s hospital fees. Last year, Mr Ibu underwent a leg amputation and fans had come together to crowdfund the medical expenses. His son Daniel Okafor and adopted daughter Jasmine Chioma are accused of hacking into their father’s phone and embezzling $60,700. Both siblings appeared before the court on Thursday and could be released on a $17,000 bond. They are currently in police custody awaiting further legal proceedings.

The police’s criminal investigation unit revealed that the pair installed an application on John Okafor’s phone while the fundraising was going on. This app allegedly allowed them to transfer money from his account into their own. The accused haven’t made any public statements since their arrest.

Mr Ibu’s health issues were first made public in October last year when his family shared a video of him celebrating in the hospital. The Nollywood star appealed for financial assistance to cover his medical bills and received a tremendous response from his fans. John Okafor, fondly referred to as Mr Ibu, rose to fame two decades ago with his role in the Nigerian comedy Mr Ibu. His performance in the movie is still recognized as one of the best in Nigerian comedy. Throughout his career, he has acted in numerous other notable movies in Nollywood, which is known as Nigeria’s multi-billion-dollar film industry.

The siblings, Daniel Okafor and Jasmine Chioma, remain in custody awaiting their next court appearance on 11 March. It was revealed that Mr Ibu has a total of 13 children, some of whom are adopted.