Nollywood actress Evans Okoro has publicly confronted her colleague, Ekene Umenwa, following shocking allegations that Umenwa labeled her as HIV positive. The controversy stems from a viral exposé by a UK-based Nigerian nurse, Adanma Waller, who released a list of Nollywood stars that Umenwa allegedly gossiped about while staying at her residence.
In an Instagram video shared on Sunday, February 22, 2026, Okoro expressed her shock and anger over the accusation, questioning why she was targeted despite previously defending Umenwa against other rumors. “Ekene Umenwa, you add me for your list? Seeing my name there as somebody wey dem talk say she carries HIV sickness for body… my mother is crying right now,” she cried, demanding that Umenwa clarify her stance or face divine retribution.
To protect her reputation and silence the heavy-mouthed gossip, Evans Okoro took the bold step of undergoing a medical screening on Monday, February 23. In a follow-up video shared directly from a hospital, the actress documented the process of receiving her results to prove her health status to her 1.2 million followers.
The laboratory test, which she displayed on screen, confirmed that she is HIV negative. “I had to do this to clear my name and show the world that these are fabricated lies meant to bring me down,” she noted, emphasizing that the false report had caused significant emotional distress to her family.
This incident is part of a much larger gossip brouhaha surrounding Ekene Umenwa, who has been accused of badmouthing several industry peers, including Destiny Etiko, Lizzy Gold, and Ruby Ojiakor.
The scandal previously reached a boiling point when Destiny Etiko slammed Umenwa for allegedly claiming she had witnessed Etiko beating her own mother, a claim Etiko described as an “abomination.” While Umenwa has reportedly reached out to some colleagues to apologize, claiming the “devil entered her mouth,” the leaked recordings and subsequent health allegations have led to widespread calls for accountability within the Nollywood community.
