Veteran Nollywood actor, John Okafor, fondly called Mr Ibu, has been confirmed dead.
The death of Mr Ibu was confirmed by his colleague, Mercy Johnson Okojie, via a post on her Instagram page on Saturday, March 2, 2024.
She wrote: “It is well….Rest well Sir…..”
Nollywood actress, Ruth Kadiri, also stated: “Sleep well PAPA.”
The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, in an Instagram post, quoted Mr Ibu’s longtime manager, Don Nwuzor, as confirming that the actor died of cardiac arrest.
Rollas wrote: “Sad Day for Actors Guild of Nigeria.
“Kate Henshaw lost her mother earlier today and Mr Ibu suffered cardiac arrest according to his manager for 24 years Mr Don Single Nwuzor.
“I announce with deep sense of grief that Mr Ibu didn’t make it.
“May his soul rest in peace.”
The Star had reported that the famous actor returned home after being discharged from the hospital where he had been undergoing treatment.
Doctors amputate Mr Ibu’s leg over illness
Mr Ibu’s colleague, Ken Erics, disclosed this via a video shared on his Instagram account in 2024.
It would be further recalled the family of Mr Ibu, in November 2023, revealed that one of his legs was amputated by the doctors to keep him alive and increase his chances of recovery.
“Daddy has gone through 7 successful surgeries, but to keep him alive and increase his chances of recovery, one of his legs had to be amputated.
“This development has been hard on us all, but we’ve had to accept it as Daddy’s new reality to keep him alive,” the family said.
The family had, in October 2023, announced that the comic actor was ill and required financial assistance for his treatment.
The veteran actor came into limelight in 2004 after featuring in the blockbuster movie “Mr Ibu” which gave him the popular nickname, ‘Mr Ibu’.
The movie made him win an award as the ‘Best Comic Actor in Nigeria’ at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
His other movies include ‘Mr. Ibu and His Son’, ‘Coffin Producers’, ‘Husband Suppliers’, ‘International Players’, and ‘Mr. Ibu in London and Keziah’, among others.
- Pro-Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa arrested in Finland - November 21, 2024
- Senate approves Tinubu’s request for $2.2bn loan - November 21, 2024
- Magistrates, judicial officers suspended for corruption, drunkenness - November 21, 2024
