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Valentine Okafor, son of late veteran Nollywood actor John Okafor, popularly known as “Mr. Ibu”, has debunked claims that his father’s last wife, Stella Maris Okafor is broke and could not pay her rent and children’s school fees. He added that her late dad’s wife has been living an ostentatious lifestyle and needed more to maintain same.

Recall that King Mitchy appealed to Nigerians to support Mr. Ibu’s wife due to her inability to pay rent and children’s school fees.

King Mitchy made the appeal after visiting Mr Ibu’s family

Contrary to King Mitchy’s submission, Valentine stated that his stepmum is begging Nigerians for more money to maintain her lavish lifestyle.

He accused Stella Maris of using her husband’s name and fame to extort the public.

In the same vein, comic actor, Fred Ebere, popularly known as Tenkobo, has taken a swipe at Stella Maris for soliciting financial help online.

Tenkobo, who accused her and other family members of selling Ibu’s investments, which included houses and landed properties, asked her to account for the money.

While asking what if Ibu wasn’t an actor, he said, “Does it mean that because you are the wife of a legend, you should not work, get handwork, or have something doing? What if Ibu is not an actor?”

Sharing details of his phone conversation with Ibu’s family, he said: “Guys, that’s the voice of Mr Ibu’s first son, Valentine Okafor. He is in his late 30s, if he is not yet 40. Because when I saw the video by Stella, I vex. I had to call the boy and I said, ‘See wetin I see.’ The boy broke down. You can hear what he just said on the phone, that I know John Okafor more than how many people know him because of my relationship with him.

“My relationship with Okafor started from colleagues to friends, from friends to father and son, and from father and son to partners in crime. That’s how much my relationship with him grew. Now, this video wey Stella do is not her first. Stella has done this type of video before, even when Mr Ibu was alive. That time the man dey alive and I asked am, ‘Baba, why this kind thing?’ Me and am discussed am, everything end.

“Now claiming that Chelsea is the only daughter, na lie. Ibu get plenty children. His first girl is in her late 20s. She’s the one that carried his photo frame during the burial. Now telling people you did not pay house rent. What I want to ask before I proceed now is, does it mean that because you are the wife of a legend, you should not work, get handwork, or get something doing? What if Ibu is not an actor? I’m not angry if you came out to solicit for help. But presenting it as if the man did not leave anything behind, did not plan his life well, or did not invest.

“That man made money from Nollywood and he invested the money. One of the greatest problems wey Ibu get na family, both his immediate brother and his wives and sons. Ibu tried very well to invest. The question now is, who sold all his landed properties that he invested in? He bought plenty of lands and houses. Did he sell them before he died? No be una still sell all his properties? After selling those properties, what did you do with the money?

“So, my people. Anybody that wants to help Stella should not help her with the mindset that Ibu did not invest or leave anything behind. Ibu did well. He planned his life well and also invested in the lives of every member of his family and associates. So, this video by Stella is not necessary. It’s just to bring the man’s name into the mud. What did she do with the money from the last house she sold?” he asked.

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Tijani Mustapha, media aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has faulted the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over his criticism of the State Police Bill, insisting that he failed to read the legislation before commenting on it.

Obi had criticised the Senate’s passage of the bill, describing the process as hasty and lacking due legislative procedure.

He argued that the manner in which the bill was passed had fuelled public suspicion about the political motives behind its introduction.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate also expressed concern that the legislative process appeared disorganised, noting the absence of a public hearing.

He warned that state police could easily be exploited by state governors to suppress political opponents.

“The suspicion is that a state-controlled police force could be weaponised to suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate elections,” Obi said.

He further argued that for state policing to become a credible solution to Nigeria’s security challenges, the law must go beyond merely allowing states to establish police forces.

According to him, it should also provide for truly independent oversight bodies, including state Police Service Commissions insulated from executive control, to ensure the police serve the public rather than political interests.

Responding in a post on X, Mustapha dismissed Obi’s concerns, stating that they demonstrated he had “clearly didn’t read the bill as passed.”

According to him, the bill already makes provision for the establishment of an independent State Police Service Commission, addressing Obi’s major concern.

“I know this because his major concern of the creation of an independent State Police Service Commission was duly addressed in the bill.

“For a man who doesn’t know the meaning of KPI, one again wonders what this individual’s mental capacities are,” Mustapha wrote.

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President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law, marking a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework for national identity management.

The President assented to the legislation on Friday during a ceremony held at the State House in Abuja.

The development was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post shared on his verified X account.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026, in the State House on Friday,” Onanuga stated.

The newly enacted law is expected to provide a comprehensive legal framework for the operations, administration, and responsibilities of the National Identity Management Commission, while enhancing the country’s identity registration and verification system.

The legislation is also expected to strengthen the management of Nigeria’s national identity database, improve coordination of identity-related services, and support the government’s broader digital governance and public service reforms.

Observers believe the Act will help reinforce the legal foundation for the issuance and management of the National Identification Number (NIN), promote more efficient identity verification processes, and improve access to government and private-sector services that rely on secure identity authentication.

Although the Presidency has yet to release the full details of the new legislation, more information on its key provisions, implementation timeline, and expected impact is anticipated in the coming days.

The signing of the NIMC Act 2026 forms part of the Tinubu administration’s ongoing efforts to modernise public institutions, strengthen digital infrastructure, and improve the efficiency of identity management across Nigeria.