Just In: Property Scams or Family War? Rita Edochie Blasts Late Mr Ibu Over His Widow’s Viral Rent Appeal

 

Veteran Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has publicly waded into the heavy controversy surrounding the family of the late comic icon, John Okafor (popularly known as Mr Ibu). Her reaction follows a bitter, public back-and-forth between Mr Ibu's widow, Stella Maris, and his son, Somtochukwu, over alleged financial mismanagement and property sales.

​[The Spark: A Viral Cry for Help]

The family crisis blew open after Mr Ibu's widow, Stella Maris, appeared in a viral video alongside content creator King Mitchy. In the emotional interview, Stella Maris claimed the family was facing severe financial hardship, adding that she could no longer afford basic utility bills, house rent, or her children’s school fees.

​[The Stepson Fires Back with Heavy Allegations]

However, the public sympathy took a sharp turn when Mr Ibu’s son, Somtochukwu, released a counter-video leveling serious accusations against his stepmother.

​Somtochukwu alleged that Stella Maris had taken sole control of his late father's properties, which were meant for all the children. He claimed she secretly sold off prime assets—including a house in Lagos for ₦60 million, a property in Enugu for ₦17 million, and another in Asaba for ₦11 million—without distributing the proceeds or helping the other children with critical expenses like school fees.

​Note: Stella Maris has since denied his claims, stating that the ₦17 million from the Enugu land was jointly sold and entirely used to fund Mr Ibu’s burial expenses.

​[Rita Edochie Warns Against Polygamy]

Reacting to the ongoing public drama, legendary actress Rita Edochie did not hold back. Taking to her social media layout, she blamed the entire breakdown on the structural errors of polygamy and stated that the late actor failed to protect his household's future:

​"Polygamy has done more harm than good. Late Mr Ibu did not do well at all. No matter how we try to sugarcoat polygamy, it still does not change the fact that it has been one of the greatest marital errors that have jeopardized the peace of countless families."

​She went on to describe the post-humous crisis as a textbook example of the hidden bitterness that surfaces once the patriarch of a polygamous home passes away:

​"The painful aspect of it comes when the proud polygamist is gone to the other side. Sadly, the situation currently playing out in Mr Ibu's family has become another painful reminder of how difficult such family structures can become. Even monogamy, involving just one man and one wife, is challenging enough; how much more difficult does it become when multiple spouses are involved."

Veteran Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has publicly waded into the heavy controversy surrounding the family of the late comic icon, John Okafor (popularly known as Mr Ibu). Her reaction follows a bitter, public back-and-forth between Mr Ibu's widow, Stella Maris, and his son, Somtochukwu, over alleged financial mismanagement and property sales.

​[The Spark: A Viral Cry for Help]

The family crisis blew open after Mr Ibu's widow, Stella Maris, appeared in a viral video alongside content creator King Mitchy. In the emotional interview, Stella Maris claimed the family was facing severe financial hardship, adding that she could no longer afford basic utility bills, house rent, or her children’s school fees.

​[The Stepson Fires Back with Heavy Allegations]

However, the public sympathy took a sharp turn when Mr Ibu’s son, Somtochukwu, released a counter-video leveling serious accusations against his stepmother.

​Somtochukwu alleged that Stella Maris had taken sole control of his late father's properties, which were meant for all the children. He claimed she secretly sold off prime assets—including a house in Lagos for ₦60 million, a property in Enugu for ₦17 million, and another in Asaba for ₦11 million—without distributing the proceeds or helping the other children with critical expenses like school fees.

​Note: Stella Maris has since denied his claims, stating that the ₦17 million from the Enugu land was jointly sold and entirely used to fund Mr Ibu’s burial expenses.

​[Rita Edochie Warns Against Polygamy]

Reacting to the ongoing public drama, legendary actress Rita Edochie did not hold back. Taking to her social media layout, she blamed the entire breakdown on the structural errors of polygamy and stated that the late actor failed to protect his household's future:

​"Polygamy has done more harm than good. Late Mr Ibu did not do well at all. No matter how we try to sugarcoat polygamy, it still does not change the fact that it has been one of the greatest marital errors that have jeopardized the peace of countless families."

​She went on to describe the post-humous crisis as a textbook example of the hidden bitterness that surfaces once the patriarch of a polygamous home passes away:

​"The painful aspect of it comes when the proud polygamist is gone to the other side. Sadly, the situation currently playing out in Mr Ibu's family has become another painful reminder of how difficult such family structures can become. Even monogamy, involving just one man and one wife, is challenging enough; how much more difficult does it become when multiple spouses are involved."