Veteran Nigerian actor, John Okafor popular known as Mr Ibu has passed on.
Mr Ibu was affirmed dead as of March 2nd, 2024, when this article was written. He died on Saturday afternoon after he was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Evercare Hospital, Lekki a high brow area of Lagos, Nigeria.
He was 62 as at the time of death. And Vanguard Nigeria reports that the actor died while in a hospital. Although his cause of death is yet to be revealed.
In a previous update on Mr. Ibu’s health some time back, his daughter Chioma Jasmine stated in an Instagram post that he was in better health than before.
In her words “Never seen anyone so strong… even after two major surgeries, you were still trying to be funny like nothing happened, even in your lowest you still cracked jokes!” she wrote.
Mr Ibu’s death follows months of ill health.
In October 2023, family of the actor revealed that he had been battling some health issues and had undergone multiple surgeries.
He had earlier made a passionate appeal and announced a fundraiser to offset his medical bills at a Lagos hospital.
Mr Ibu had said he had been hospitalized for two weeks because of a “strange and dangerous illness”. And the actor later celebrated his birthday, hopeful of a speedy recovery.
However, on 6 November 2023, Mr Ibu’s leg was amputated, barely a month after he solicited prayers and financial assistance from his fans.
Announcing the leg amputation on the actor’s Instagram page, his family said the amputation was to increase his chances of recovery. They said the development was complex but necessary.
On 17 December 2023, the family of the 62-year-old actor further revealed the reason behind his inability to be flown abroad for additional treatment.
The family explained in a statement that doctors deemed him ‘Not Fit to Fly,’ rendering it challenging to arrange his departure for advanced medical treatment due to the airlines’ refusal to transport him.
According to the family, the cause of the illness was not diabetes but a persistent clotting of blood in Mr Ibu’s leg, stemming from diseased blood vessels, along with other health challenges that posed a significant risk to his life.
Mr Ibu was then discharged in January and was seen with Nollywood actor, Ken Erics who visited him.
In an unbelievable twist, later that month, officers of the Nigerian police arrested the son and adopted daughter of Mr Ibu, over allegations that they stole money meant for the actor’s treatment.
Onyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu are alleged to have taken “possession of the actor’s phone and hacked his bank details”, before stealing 55m naira ($60,700; £47,800).
The money was part of funds that had been donated by fans and well-wishers for the actor’s treatment.
The authorities have since recovered 50m naira from the alleged culprits, local media say, quoting the spokesperson of the police’s criminal investigation department, Mayegun Aminat.
“The two suspects were planning to escape to the UK”, according to Ms Aminat.
Mr. Ibu, whose real name is John Okafor, is a prominent Nigerian actor and comedian known for his unique and exceptional contributions to the Nigerian film industry, often referred to as Nollywood.
His distinctive style of comedy and unforgettable characters have endeared him to audiences not only in Nigeria but also in many parts of Africa and the African diaspora worldwide.
John Okafor was born on October 17, 1961, in Enugu, Nigeria.
He hails from the Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria, and he grew up in a family that appreciated humor. This early exposure to humor and laughter would later influence his career as a comedian and actor. He will be sorely missed my lovers of Nigerian comedy movies all around the world.
