Nollywood actress and spokesperson for the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Kate Henshaw, has denied claims of neglect made by Stella Maris, the wife of actor John Okafor, also known as Mr. Ibu.
Stella Maris alleged that the guild had not been helpful in getting medical attention for her husband amid his health battles.
Speaking on behalf of the AGN on Saturday, Kate Henshaw maintained that the guild has always supported its members, regardless of their status, especially in matters of health.
She emphasised that their aid was extended to Mr Ibu even before he disclosed his health condition, with the full consent and knowledge of his immediate family.
“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 full knowledge of his immediate family.”
“We’ve had to task members privately to help assist with our intervention for his health issues. But it would be wrong to make it public knowledge of any form of assistance we provide to our members in need.”
In response, Stella Maris, in a video shared by the social media critic VeryDarkMan, insisted that the guild’s statement was a cover-up and lacked truth.
She revealed that she hadn’t received 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 supported Mr. Ibu since 2021.
While acknowledging Stella’s distress, Kate stated that labelling the Guild as unhelpful is inaccurate.
Kate Henshaw concluded by emphasizing that the focus should be on Mr. Ibu’s health and that she wouldn’t make any further statements on the matter.
The 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.
