According to a report by The Cable on Friday, June 26, 2026, Comic actor Fred “Tenkobo” Ebere has criticised Stella Okafor, the widow of the late veteran Nollywood actor John “Mr Ibu” Okafor, over her recent appeal for financial assistance.
Ebere accused Stella of exploiting the late actor’s legacy to attract sympathy and solicit donations from the public.
His reaction followed a video shared by Stella in which she disclosed that she was facing financial difficulties, stating that she was struggling to pay her house rent and meet her children’s school fee obligations.
Ebere expressed his views in a video posted on his Instagram page, where he challenged several aspects of Stella’s public appeal.
Responding to Stella’s video, Ebere said he immediately contacted Valentine Okafor, the first son of the late Mr Ibu, after watching the appeal.
According to him, he sought clarification on some of the issues raised in the video before making his own public comments.
The comic actor suggested that he considered it necessary to speak with a member of the late actor’s family before responding to Stella’s claims.
His reaction has added another dimension to the public discussion surrounding the family’s circumstances following the death of the veteran Nollywood actor.
Ebere also disputed Stella’s assertion that Chelsea is Mr Ibu’s only daughter.
He maintained that the late actor had several children and argued that the public should not be given the impression that Chelsea was his only female child.
According to Ebere, Mr Ibu’s first daughter is already in her late twenties and was among the family members who participated prominently during the actor’s burial ceremony.
He specifically recalled that she carried the late actor’s photograph during the funeral proceedings, describing it as evidence that the actor had other children.
The comic actor further questioned why Stella was appealing for financial assistance instead of seeking employment or establishing a business to generate income.
He suggested that pursuing a means of livelihood would be a more sustainable approach to addressing her financial challenges.
Ebere argued that relying on public donations should not be the first option available to someone in her situation, maintaining that there were other legitimate ways of earning an income to support herself and her family.
Ebere’s comments focused on challenging the claims made in Stella’s appeal while questioning the narrative surrounding the late actor’s immediate family.
He maintained that the public deserved accurate information regarding Mr Ibu’s children and family structure.
His response has drawn attention to differing accounts concerning the late actor’s family, following Stella’s request for financial support to assist with rent and her children’s education.
The exchange has generated public discussion about the circumstances surrounding the late actor’s family after his passing.
He said, “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.”