Why we sold Mr Ibu’s house -Late actor’s wife, Stella

Stella Okafor, the widow of late Nollywood comic actor John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu has reacted to controversies over property of the late actor, which she was accused of selling after his death.

She explained that the decision to sell his house in Enugu for N17 million was jointly made and executed by herself, his son’s from a previous marriage and and the actor’s family.

She spoke in an interview with content creator King Mitchy, saying Valentine and Daniel Okafor, two of Mr Ibu’s sons, jointly sold the land in Enugu for N17 million.

“Before they sold the land, we were still in the village, and they (the children and family) were arguing with me over the money they gave me during the burial. They insisted that I must share the money with them. I told them the money was for my children. The money was N500,000,” she said.

“That land that was sold in Enugu, three of us sold that land because of the burial. It was N17 million. Go and ask the children.”

“We (my husband’s sons sold his house). I am not the one who sold the house. We sold the house.”

Her defence comes after days of public backlash following her plea for financial assistance.

Stella had appealed for public support, revealing the family had been without electricity for two months, and her children had been sent home from school over unpaid fees. Her plea reportedly raised over N7 million in donations.

Somtochukwu Okafor, the actor’s third son, however, dismissed his stepmum’s claims of financial hardship, alleging she sold several properties following Mr Ibu’s passing.

Actor Tenkobo also criticised Stella, accusing her of exploiting her late husband’s legacy to solicit donations.

But the controversy deepened when a woman claiming to be Mr Ibu’s first wife accused Stella of financial mismanagement and orchestrating the arrest of two relatives during the actor’s illness.

She accused Stella of selling off the late actor’s properties without consulting other family members, including a parcel of land in Enugu, reportedly valued at N18 million and a house in Lagos.

Addressing the allegations, Stella claimed her husband never told her he had children from a previous relationship before they married.

“My husband never told me that he was married before. Even the first son, I keep seeing him in the house. My husband never for one day told me that he was his son. Even in marriage with him, he impregnated a lady who gave birth to twins,” she added.