Stellamaris Okafor, the widow of late Nollywood actor John “Mr Ibu” Okafor, has denied allegations by her stepson, Somtochukwu Okafor, that she secretly sold the late actor’s properties and kept the proceeds for herself and her biological children.
The family dispute intensified after Somtochukwu, the actor’s fourth child, released a video accusing Stellamaris of selling properties belonging to the late comedian in Enugu, Asaba and Lagos without the knowledge of other family members.
His claims came in response to an earlier interview the widow granted content creator Mukoro “King Mitchy” Michelle, in which she said she and her three children were facing severe financial hardship, struggling to pay rent and their children’s school fees.
Responding in a follow-up interview with King Mitchy, Stellamaris dismissed the allegations, insisting that the only property sold was a parcel of land in the village, which she said was disposed of with the consent of the late actor’s children to finance his burial.
According to her, the land was sold for N17 million, and the entire proceeds were spent on funeral expenses.
“Regarding the land in Enugu State, three of us sold it to fund my husband’s burial. We sold the land for N17 million and used it for the burial. Go and ask the children,” she said.
She also disclosed that disagreements arose during the burial over N500,000 that was given to her, alleging that some family members demanded she share the money with them.
“Before they sold the land, we were still in the village, and they 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.
Stellamaris further claimed that during their marriage, Mr Ibu never informed her that he had previously been married or had children from earlier relationships.
“My husband never told me that he was married before. Even the first son, I kept seeing him in the house, but my husband never told me he was his son. When I was married to my husband, he impregnated another lady who gave birth to twins,” she alleged.
Meanwhile, content creator King Mitchy disclosed that compassionate Nigerians had donated a total of N7.5 million to support Stellamaris and her children following her appeal for financial assistance.
John “Mr Ibu” Okafor, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated comic actors, died on March 2, 2024, at the age of 62 after suffering a cardiac arrest at a Lagos hospital.