Nollywood actress and spokesperson for the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Kate Henshaw, has refuted allegations of neglect made by Stella Maris, the wife of actor John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu.
Stella Maris had claimed that the guild did not provide adequate support in securing medical attention for her husband during his health challenges.
On Saturday, Kate Henshaw, speaking on behalf of the AGN, maintained that the guild has consistently supported its members, regardless of their status, especially when it comes to health-related issues. She emphasized that the AGN’s assistance had been extended to Mr. Ibu even before he made his health condition public, with the consent and knowledge of his immediate family. Kate Henshaw said, “It is necessary to set the records straight over the public outcry about the AGN abandoning Mr. Ibu. The Guild has never abandoned any of its members, especially those with health interventions. We’ve been at the forefront of providing necessary support for Mr. Ibu even before his health condition was made public. And this was done with the full knowledge of his immediate family.”
She also noted that the guild had privately engaged its members to help assist with interventions for Mr. Ibu’s health issues. However, she mentioned that making public the details of such assistance would be inappropriate.
In response to Kate Henshaw’s statements, Stella Maris, in a video shared on social media, insisted that the guild’s statement was a cover-up and lacked truth. She revealed that she had not received any assistance from the union before her husband’s health crisis, and her attempts to contact the Actors Guild had been unsuccessful.
Kate Henshaw fired back, accusing Stella Maris of spreading falsehoods. She firmly asserted that the Guild has been supporting Mr. Ibu since 2021.
While acknowledging Stella’s distress, Kate emphasized that labeling the Guild as unhelpful is inaccurate. She concluded by stressing that the primary focus should be on Mr. Ibu’s health, and she would not make any further statements on the matter.
This dispute revolves around the assistance provided to Mr. Ibu during his health struggles, and Kate Henshaw, as the AGN spokesperson, has defended the guild’s position.
