Alexx Ekubo’s Family Raises Questions Over His Death and Burial
For many Nigerians, the burial of Alexx Ekubo was meant to bring a dignified close to the life of one of Nollywood’s most recognisable actors. Instead, days after he was laid to rest, members of the Ekubo-Okwaraeke family stepped forward with questions they say remain unanswered, shifting national attention from celebrating his legacy to examining the circumstances surrounding his final days.
Alexx Ekubo died on May 11, 2026, at Evercare Hospital in Lagos at the age of 40. His family later disclosed that he had been battling advanced metastatic kidney cancer, an illness he deliberately kept away from the public throughout much of his treatment. According to filmmaker Stanley Ontop, a close associate of the actor, Ekubo was diagnosed in 2024, underwent a kidney transplant, and briefly returned to work before complications from the transplanted organ caused his health to deteriorate. His final Instagram post, published in December 2024, has since taken on renewed significance as fans reflect on a struggle that remained largely hidden from public view.
Funeral activities began with a Service of Songs in Lagos before moving to his ancestral home in Arochukwu, Abia State, where family members, friends, colleagues, government officials, and admirers gathered for his final rites. Representing the Abia State Government, Governor Alex Otti’s Chief of Staff, Dr Caleb Ajagba, described the late actor as a worthy ambassador who projected the image of Abia State and Nigeria through his work in the entertainment industry.
The mood of national mourning, however, took an unexpected turn after members of the Ekubo-Okwaraeke family released a statement expressing dissatisfaction with how events surrounding the actor’s illness, death, and burial unfolded. In the statement, the family alleged that Alexx Ekubo’s biological mother and only biological sister were not formally informed about the circumstances leading to his death and were not adequately involved in decisions surrounding his funeral arrangements. The family further questioned why they were allegedly excluded from important discussions despite being his immediate biological relatives.
The statement also expressed concern over the decision to dress the late actor in white during what organisers described as a celebration of life. According to the family, that decision was made without their knowledge or approval. The family did not explain who specifically authorised the arrangement but maintained that they believed closer consultation should have taken place before such decisions were made.
The controversy deepened after another family member, Clinton Ekubo, published a Facebook post making additional allegations concerning events surrounding the actor’s personal life and final days. Among other claims, he alleged that significant decisions affecting Alexx Ekubo, including matters relating to his marriage and funeral, were made without the knowledge of the wider Ekubo-Okwaraeke family. He also alleged that the actor’s biological mother and sister were not kept adequately informed during critical moments.
These allegations have generated widespread discussion across social media and entertainment circles. However, Obinwannem News has not independently verified the claims contained in the family’s statement or subsequent social media posts. At the time of publication, no public response addressing those specific allegations had been issued by the individuals referenced in the family’s statements.
Earlier, the actor’s cousin, David Ekubo, had similarly questioned aspects of the events surrounding Alexx Ekubo’s death and burial, saying the family still deserved answers regarding how information was communicated during the period leading to his passing. Those comments further intensified public interest in what has become one of the most talked-about post-burial family disputes involving a Nigerian celebrity in recent years.
While the controversy continues to unfold, it has also renewed conversations about the delicate balance between privacy and family involvement when public figures become critically ill. Many celebrities choose to keep serious medical conditions away from public attention, often limiting information to a small circle of trusted individuals. When such decisions intersect with family expectations, disagreements can sometimes emerge after death, particularly where communication is perceived to have been inadequate.
Beyond the unresolved questions remains a career that earned Alexx Ekubo admiration across Africa. Born on April 10, 1986, in Port Harcourt and originally from Arochukwu in Abia State, Alexx Ekubo first gained national recognition after emerging as the first runner-up in the 2010 Mr Nigeria competition before establishing himself as one of Nollywood’s leading actors. Over more than a decade on screen, he appeared in over 100 productions, including Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story, Omo Ghetto: The Saga, The Bling Lagosians, A Sunday Affair and Weekend Getaway. In 2020, reflecting his growing influence beyond the film industry.
For millions of fans, that legacy remains the defining story of his life. Yet for members of his family, the questions surrounding his final days have become part of that legacy as well. Whether those concerns eventually receive further clarification remains uncertain. What is certain is that Alexx Ekubo’s passing has left both a void in Nollywood and difficult questions that some of those closest to him believe still deserve answers.
Written by Nwada Chidimma Ejikeme (Obinwannem News)
Date: July 1, 2026
Ubochi: Afo Ani
Published by Mazi Ugwu Okechukwu (CEO/MD, Obinwannem LLC/FW)
