For more than two decades, Halima Abubakar was one of Nollywood’s most recognisable faces. Having featured in more than 100 films across Nollywood and Kannywood, she earned a reputation as a dependable lead actress.
By the mid-2010s, Halima had become a household name, appearing consistently in films and industry events, and in 2011, she won the Afro Hollywood Best Actress Award, a moment that marked the peak of her career.
But today, her story reads very differently. 
What began as a promising career has slowly turned into a long, painful battle with illness, public controversy, and financial hardship over the last 9 years.
What could have gone wrong?
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2017: First major health scare
In 2017, Halima travelled to India for surgery to remove fibroids. The experience marked the beginning of her public health struggles.
After the procedure, she openly criticised colleagues who, according to her, failed to check on her. She also thanked the few who offered support. At the time, many viewed the incident as a temporary setback.
It was not.
2018–2021: Prolonged illness
Over the next few years, Halima’s health reportedly worsened. She later revealed that she suffered from prolonged bleeding issues and spent heavily on medication and treatment.
Her appearances in films reduced drastically, and by her own account, she stopped acting entirely for long stretches and eventually relocated to a village to manage her health away from public view.
2022: She Quit Acting
In 2022, Halima announced that she had quit acting due to her illness. Her management wrote this on her Instagram page:
“Halima Abubakar quit acting. We are so grateful for all. We love you all. Thank you for the support. She is so downcast. She really did love acting. Thank you.”
Many sympathised with her, but that same year, her name dominated headlines for a different reason.
2022–2024: The Apostle Johnson Suleman controversy
The most damaging public episode of Halima Abubakar’s life began in 2022, when she accused Apostle Johnson Suleman, the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, of having an affair with her.
She alleged that the relationship contributed to her deteriorating health and claimed it came with emotional, physical, and spiritual consequences.
Apostle Suleman denied the allegations and described them as false and malicious. He filed a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit against the actress.
The legal battle dragged on through 2023, with repeated court adjournments. In April 2024, the court ruled in favour of Apostle Suleman. Halima was ordered to pay ₦10 million in damages, retract her statements, and stop making further allegations.
In a written apology shared on her verified Instagram page, she admitted that the allegations were false.
She apologised to Apostle Suleman, his wife, family, and church leadership, describing her claims as “baseless” and deeply regretting the harm they caused.
She asked for forgiveness and acknowledged that she was not in the right state of mind at the time.
That same year, she reportedly spent ₦9 million on her mother’s hernia surgery, draining what was left of her savings.
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2025–2026: Health Decline, Eviction and Urgent Medical Fund Appeal
Halima has been publicly appealing for financial assistance. In emotional videos and live sessions, she explained that she was battling a brain tumour, struggling financially, and facing eviction after her landlady refused to renew her rent.
She revealed that she had relocated to Abuja to stay close to a Turkish hospital where she received treatment and follow-up scans, including multiple MRIs.
In this same video, she disclosed that she urgently needed about ₦25 million for surgery on both her brain and spleen, including aftercare, and has so far raised a little over ₦6 million.
She also lamented that many of her industry colleagues and public figures had not responded to her calls for help.
At the time of writing, Halima is still appealing for the funds needed to cover her medical care and accommodation.
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