By Testimony Adebisi

Fred ‘Tenkobo’ Ebere, the comic actor, has criticised Stella Okafor, widow of the late veteran actor John ‘Mr Ibu’ Okafor, over her plea for financial assistance, accusing her of exploiting her late husband’s legacy for sympathy and donations.

Tenkobo took to Instagram to share a video in response to Stella’s appeal, in which she claimed she was struggling to pay rent and cover her children’s school fees.

Ebere stated he contacted Valentine Okafor, Mr Ibu’s first son, immediately after viewing Stella’s video.

“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 was vexed. 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,” he said.

“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 did is not her first. Stella has done this type of video before, even when Mr Ibu was alive.”

Ebere challenged Stella’s claim that Chelsea is Mr Ibu’s only daughter, asserting the late actor has multiple children and noting that his “first girl is in her late 20s” and carried his photo frame during the burial.

He also questioned why Stella would not seek employment or run a business.

“Now claiming that Chelsea is the only daughter, na lie. Ibu has plenty of children. His first girl is in her late 20s. She’s the one who carried his photo frame during the burial,” he said.

“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 help. But presenting it as if the man did not leave anything behind, did not plan his life well, or did not invest.”

The actor disputed the impression that Mr Ibu died without assets, claiming the late star “made money from Nollywood and invested” in properties.

“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,” he said.

“The question now is, who sold all the landed properties that he invested in? He bought plenty of land 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 who 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?”

Ebere’s comments come after Somtochukwu Okafor, the late actor’s third son, also dismissed Stella’s claims, alleging that she had sold several of Mr Ibu’s properties following his death.

Source: TheCable