Nigerian comic actor, Fred Ebere, professionally known as Tenkobo, has tackled Stella Maris Okafor, the last wife of the late Nollywood veteran, Mr Ibu, for soliciting financial help online.
Newsunplug reports that Stella had, in a video shared by Nigerian influencer King Mitchy on Wednesday, sought financial support from the public over her alleged inability to pay house rent and her children’s school fees.
Reacting to the viral video, Fred Ebere, professionally known as Tenkobo, who was Mr Ibu’s close colleague and family friend, accused Stella Maris of using her husband’s name and fame to extort the public.
Tenkobo, who accused her and other family members of selling Ibu’s investments, which included houses and landed properties, asked her to account for the money.
While asking what if Ibu wasn’t an actor, he said, “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 is not an actor?”
Sharing details of his phone conversation with Ibu’s family, he said: “Guys, that’s the voice of Mr Ibu’s first son, Valentine Okafor. He is in his late 30s, if he is not yet 40. Because when I saw the video by Stella, I vex. I had to call the boy and I said, ‘See wetin I see.’ The boy broke down. You can hear what he just said on the phone, that I know John Okafor more than how many people know him because of my relationship with him.
“My relationship with Okafor started from colleagues to friends, from friends to father and son, and from father and son to partners in crime. That’s how much my relationship with him grew. Now, this video wey Stella do is not her first. Stella has done this type of video before, even when Mr Ibu was alive. That time the man dey alive and I asked am, ‘Baba, why this kind thing?’ Me and am discussed am, everything end.
“Now claiming that Chelsea is the only daughter, na lie. Ibu get plenty children. His first girl is in her late 20s. She’s the one that carried his photo frame during the burial. Now telling people you did not pay house rent. What I want to ask before I proceed now is, does it mean that because you are the wife of a legend, you should not work, get handwork, or get something doing? What if Ibu is not an actor? I’m not angry if you came out to solicit for help. But presenting it as if the man did not leave anything behind, did not plan his life well, or did not invest.
“That man made money from Nollywood and he invested the money. One of the greatest problems wey Ibu get na family, both his immediate brother and his wives and sons. Ibu tried very well to invest. The question now is, who sold all his landed properties that he invested in? He bought plenty of lands and houses. Did he sell them before he died? No be una still sell all his properties? After selling those properties, what did you do with the money?
“So, my people. Anybody that wants to help Stella should not help her with the mindset that Ibu did not invest or leave anything behind. Ibu did well. He planned his life well and also invested in the lives of every member of his family and associates. So, this video by Stella is not necessary. It’s just to bring the man’s name into the mud. What did she do with the money from the last house she sold?” he asked.
Newsunplug reports that this came two years after Mr Ibu’s death.