Celestial Church Probes Death of Nollywood Actress Tope Osoba Amid Family Allegations

The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) has launched an investigation into the death of Nollywood actress and producer Tope Osoba following allegations involving her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko, who is a Shepherd in the church. Osoba died on August 4 at age 40, though her death was announced publicly on August 5. While initial reports attributed her death to a prolonged battle with breast cancer, her family later released a statement claiming she had recovered from cancer but died following a period of emotional distress, depression, and self medication.

The Osoba family stated that the actress had been struggling with her health and a difficult relationship with her fiancé. According to the family, Osoba made frantic calls for help to her paternal aunt, Revd Mother Kehinde Osoba Eritosin, in the days leading up to her death. On August 4, a friend reported that Osoba was behaving strangely and making statements about death. The family reports that she was taken to a police station after causing a traffic disturbance and later died in a vehicle while being transported to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu.

The CCC described the controversy as an extremely disgusting mess and denied any involvement in spiritual practices such as black magic or cultism, asserting that such acts are contrary to their doctrines. Meanwhile, the actress's death has sparked conflict within the film industry. Actress Toyosi Adesanya criticized the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), alleging that the organization and some colleagues attempted to discourage support for Osoba's burial by claiming she was not a registered member of the association.