Veteran Nollywood actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu says the financial challenges surrounding the family of late comic actor John “Mr Ibu” Okafor should not be blamed on Nollywood’s pay structure, arguing that many actors face significant personal financial obligations.
According to a TheCable report published on Monday, July 6, 2026, Udokwu recalled that colleagues raised funds for Mr Ibu during his illness while some Nigerians questioned why the actor needed financial assistance.
“It is not that Nollywood does not pay, but people have bills to pay,” Udokwu said, adding that he later learned Mr Ibu had more than two wives and substantial financial responsibilities.
Mr Ibu died on March 2, 2024, after suffering cardiac arrest following a prolonged illness. His family’s finances recently returned to public attention after his widow, Stella Okar, appealed for support, claiming the household had no electricity for two months and that her children had been sent home over unpaid school fees. The appeal reportedly attracted more than ₦7 million in donations.
The claims have since been disputed by Mr Ibu’s third son, Somtochukwu Okafor, as well as other family members, who alleged that some of the late actor’s assets were sold without consultation, fueling an ongoing dispute over the management of his estate.
