Nigeria mourns the passing of legendary Nollywood actor John Okafor, affectionately known as Mr Ibu, at the age of 62. Emeka Rollas, President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, sadly confirmed Okafor’s death on Saturday, resulting from a cardiac arrest.
Okafor rose to fame two decades ago with his starring role in the hit film “Mr Ibu,” which became closely linked to his iconic career. His performance in that movie is hailed as one of the greatest in Nigerian comedy history. Over his fruitful career, Okafor appeared in over 200 Nollywood productions, including “Keziah,” “9 Wives,” and numerous “Mr Ibu” sequels.
Tributes flooded in honoring the late great, with actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie bidding farewell and law professor Joy Ezeilo lauding him as a beloved figure who brought immense joy. Nigeria’s Culture Minister, Hannatu Musawa, remembered him as a household name who left indelible smiles on families nationwide.
According to local reports, Okafor passed away at a hospital in Lagos state. Last year, his health struggles were publicized, sparking a crowdfunding campaign for his medical expenses, which tragically led to the amputation of one of his legs in November.
In a twist of events, his son Daniel Okafor and adopted daughter Jasmine Chioma were arrested in January, accused of hacking Okafor’s phone and embezzling $60,700. They face an upcoming court hearing on March 11th related to these charges.
Described as enduring “tumultuous” final years, Okafor had claimed surviving multiple poisoning attempts, as reported by Nigeria’s Punch newspaper. He leaves behind a legacy and 13 children.
Main image: Fab magazine
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