Fred Ebere Slams Mr Ibu’s Widow Over Online Begging
Nigerian comic actor Fred Ebere, widely known as Tenkobo, has publicly criticised Stella Maris Okafor, the widow of late Nollywood star John Okafor (Mr Ibu), for seeking financial assistance through online videos.
Describing himself as a close colleague and family friend of Mr Ibu, Tenkobo accused Stella of exploiting the late actor’s name to solicit money from the public. He also claimed that several family members had sold Mr Ibu’s investments, including houses and landed properties, and demanded that they account for the proceeds.
He questioned why Stella had not found a means of livelihood since her husband’s death, asking: “Does it mean that because you are the wife of a legend, you should not work, get handwork, or have something doing? What if Ibu was not an actor?”
Tenkobo shared details of a phone conversation with Mr Ibu’s first son, Valentine Okafor, who is in his late 30s. He said he called the son after seeing Stella’s video, and the young man broke down during the call. Tenkobo asserted that he knows John Okafor better than most because their relationship evolved from colleagues to friends, then to father‑son, and finally to partners in crime.
The comedian noted that Stella had made similar begging videos before, even while Mr Ibu was still alive. He recalled confronting the actor about those earlier clips, after which the matter was resolved.
He rejected the claim that Chelsea is Mr Ibu’s only daughter, stating that the late actor had many children. His first daughter, now in her late 20s, carried his photo frame at the burial. Tenkobo also challenged Stella’s assertion that she had not paid house rent, asking for clarification.
According to Tenkobo, Mr Ibu earned substantial income from Nollywood and invested it wisely in real estate. He questioned who sold the actor’s landed properties and what happened to the money from those sales.
He urged anyone wishing to help Stella not to operate under the assumption that Mr Ibu left nothing behind. “He planned his life well and invested in the lives of every family member and associate,” Tenkobo said. He labelled the video unnecessary and an attempt to drag the legend’s name through the mud, and asked what Stella did with the proceeds from the last house she sold.
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