Ibrahim Chatta Recounts Heartbreaking Loss of First Child Due to Lack of Funds

Veteran Nollywood actor Ibrahim Chatta has emotionally shared the tragic story of how his first child died in a Lagos hospital due to his inability to settle the medical bills at the time.

Speaking candidly during a conversation on a movie set—captured in a video now circulating online—Chatta recounted that his baby girl was taken to a hospital in the Iddo area of Lagos State. Despite desperate attempts to raise money by trekking across neighborhoods from Ijora Badia to Makoko, he was unable to secure the funds before she passed away.

“I couldn’t save her. I didn’t have the money. She was buried in an old wooden Coca-Cola crate,” the actor painfully recalled.

This revelation has struck a chord with fans and fellow actors, shedding light on the financial struggles he faced early in life, despite now being a celebrated name in Nigeria’s film industry.

In a separate interview on the ‘Curiosity Made Me Ask’ podcast, the 54-year-old actor also addressed questions regarding his absence from the prestigious Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA). Chatta clarified that his non-involvement with the AMVCA was intentional, explaining that he has never submitted any of his films for nomination.

Though he was nominated for Best Lead Actor for his role in ‘House of GAA’, the award ultimately went to Femi Adebayo for ‘Seven Doors’. Chatta, however, insists he has no interest in the AMVCA or any accolades he did not actively pursue.

“I don’t pray for what I don’t want. I’ve never submitted any of my works. I just want to act, and that’s all that matters to me,” he said.