Nollywood actor cum filmmaker, Stanley Ajemba, better known as Stanley Ontop, has revealed that his colleague, Alex Ekubo, had secretly been battling stage 4 liver cancer since 2024.

Naija News reports that this comes hours after reports of Alex’s death came as a rude shock to many of his industry colleagues and fans.

Recounting the events that led to the thespian’s demise, Stanley, in a post on his Instagram page on Tuesday evening, explained that Alex underwent a liver transplant, stressing that “complications arose after the liver failed again, and his condition deteriorated until his passing.”

Stanley Ontop, a close associate of the deceased, said Alex’s corpse had been deposited in the morgue and urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified claims regarding the cause of his illness.

He wrote, “Alex was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer in 2024. After undergoing treatment and a liver transplant, he briefly returned to work. Unfortunately, the liver failed again and complications arose, and his condition deteriorated until his passing. His remains have been deposited at the morgue.

“We kindly ask the public to refrain from spreading unverified claims regarding the cause of his illness. We request that everyone allow Alex to rest in peace and respect the privacy of his family during this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace.”

Popular Nollywood actor, Alex Ekubo, is dead. He was 40.

His death was confirmed on Tuesday by his colleagues, Funke Akindele, Bolanle Ninalowo, and Godwin Nnadiekwe, who claimed to be his ally.

Sharing on her Instagram story, Akindele wrote, “Hmmmmmm. Rest in peace, Alex. I tried to reach out to see you one more time but guess you knew best. May your kind soul, rest in peace, Alex. ‘Ore mi like you fondly called, me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together. Rest in Peace, Alex.”

Meanwhile, Ninalowo, who is now in the United States, also mourned on his page, writing, “Rest on, Alex. May God heal your family and us all.”

Nnadiekwe, on the other hand, shared, “I’m struggling to find the words. This news has truly broken me. Nollywood has lost a rare soul, and I’m lost for words because this wasn’t the plan, Alex Ekubo. To think you already prepared your Will — It’s heartbroken, I can’t quite describe. Rest well, my friend.

As of the time of filing this report, his family has not issued a statement on his death.

Details later…

The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards is currently underway at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.

The ceremony, which began at 7 p.m. on Saturday, is celebrating outstanding achievement in African film, television and digital storytelling.

The awards are being broadcast live across all Africa Magic channels on DStv and GOtv, and streamed via DStv Stream and GOtv Stream.

Below is the updated list of winners and nominees:

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

“Colours of Fire” – Valerie Okey (WINNER)

Other nominees: The Serpent’s Gift” – Mary Chukuma; “The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade; “Something About The Briggs” – Yolanda Okereke; “To Kill a Monkey” – Ikechukwu Urum, John Joseph Angel

BEST MAKEUP

“Warlord” – Hakeem Onilogbo (WINNER)

Other nominees: “Behind The Scenes” – Mojisola Imam; “Lisabi (A Legend Is Born)” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye; “Gingerrr” – Diablaq Artistry; “Abanisete” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye; “Suky” – Ruth Harcourt; “Labake Olododo” – Adeola Thelma Bamgboye

BEST SOUND/SOUND DESIGN

“My Father’s Shadow” – Pius Fatoke, CJ Mirra (WINNER)

Other nominees: “Gingerrr” – Tolu Obanro; “Ben Made It” – Vaughan Phillips; “The Party” – Tolu Obanro; “Sebata (The Beast)” – Vaughan Phillips; “The Herd” – Fisayo Adefolaju

BEST WRITING – TV SERIES

“MTV Shuga Mashariki” – Annette Shadeya, Natasha Likimani, Mkamzee Mwatela, Arnold Mwanjila, Makgano Mamabolo (WINNER)

Other nominees: “The Wives” – Donald Tombia, Timendu Aghahowa, Chiemeka Osuagwu; “Our Husband” – Xavier Ighorodje; “Addis Fikir” – Besufekade Mulu; “Baba OH” – Temilola Balogun; “The Party” – Stephen Okonkwo; “Gizat” – Yednekachew Ayne

BEST ART DIRECTION

“Colours of Fire” – Ajamolaya Bunmi (WINNER)

Other nominees: “The Serpent’s Gift” – Zainab Oladupupo; “The Herd” – Omolade Abisola; “Aljana” – Olatunji Afolayan, Gideon Stephen; “Suky” – Victor Akpan; “Inimba” – Thabiso Senne

BEST WRITING – MOVIE

“My Father’s Shadow” – Wale Davies (WINNER)

Other nominees: “The Herd” – Lani Aisida; “Blackout” – Ikenna Okpara; “Cards on the Table” – Shirleen Wangari; “Gingerrr” – Xavier Ighorodje; “Suky” – Isaac Ayodeji; “3 Cold Dishes” – Tomi Adesina

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

“To Kill A Monkey” – Kabelo Thathe (WINNER)

Other nominees: “My Father’s Shadow” – Jermaine Edwards; “The Herd” – Emmanuel Igbekele; “Finding Nina” – Daanong Gyang; “The Serpent’s Gift” – Emmanuel Igbekele; “Stitches” – KC Obiajulu; “Gingerrr” – Emmanuel Igbekele

BEST DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR

“Leave To Live” – Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom (WINNER)

Other nominees: “Luxury Koko” – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma); “The Marriage List” – Destiny Ogie Osarewinda; “The Rate Race” – Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo; “August Meeting Election” – Steve Chuks; “Did I Just Hear Muah” – Akwaman

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (WEST AFRICA)

“Lisabi (A Legend is Born)” – Lateef Adedimeji (WINNER)

Other nominees: “The Serpent’s Gift” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi; “Labake Olododo” – Iyabo Ojo and team; “Aljana” – Grace Yachat Yakubu; “Olorisha” – Abiola Adeshina

BEST INDIGENOUS M-NET ORIGINAL

“Inimba” – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu (WINNER)

Other nominees: “Kukoyi” – David Akande; “Undugu” – Hatibu Madudu; “Out N’ About (Harar)” – Bruk Yibrah; “Kamapala Creme” – Joel Ndugwa; “The Chocolate Empire” – Grace Kahaki and Phillippe Bresson; “Mgbuka” – Eze Izu

BEST UNSCRIPTED SERIES“Nigerian Idol (S10)” – Sulaiman Kassim and Anneke De Ridder (WINNER)

Other nominees: “The Real Housewives of Lagos (S3)” – Deola Art Alade, Darey Art Alade; “Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa” – Graeme Swanepoel; “Off Air” – Gbemi and Toolz; “Out N’ About” – Bruk Yibrah

BEST SCRIPTED M-NET ORIGINAL

“The Low Priest” – Femi D. Ogunsanwo (WINNER)

Other nominees: “Adam to Eve” – Lizz Njagah and Alexandros Konstantaras; “Mother of the Brides” – Rogba Arimoro and Bio Arimoro; “The Yard” – James Kalu Omokwe; “Bobo” – Maurice Muendo

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

“The Herd” – Linda Ejiofor (WINNER)

Other nominees: “Oversabi Aunty” – Olamide Kidbaby; “Gingerrr” – Bisola Aiyeola; “The Covenant Series” – Sola Sobowale; “Aljana” – Nadia Dutch; “The Herd” – Amal Umar; “MTV Shuga Mashariki” – Juliebrenda Nyambura; “Behind the Scenes” – Funke Akindele

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Bucci Franklin – “To Kill a Monkey” (WINNER)

Other nominees:Simileoluwa Hassan – “The Yard”; Lateef Adedimeji – “Gingerrr”; Gabriel Afolayan – “Colours of Fire”; Femi Adebayo – “King of Thieves 2”; Lateef Adedimeji – “Red Circle”; Femi Branch – “Owambe Thieves”; Uzor Arukwe – “Behind the Scenes”

BEST LEAD ACTRESS

Linda Ejiofor – “The Serpent’s Gift” (WINNER)

Other nominees: Bimbo Akintola – “To Kill A Monkey”; Ifeoma Fafunwa – “The Lost Days”; Ariyike Owolagba – “Something About The Briggs”; Sola Sobowale – “Her Excellency”; Scarlet Gomez – “Behind the Scenes”; Genoveva Umeh – “The Herd”; Gloria Anozie-Young – “Mother of the Brides”

BEST LEAD ACTOR

Uzor Arukwe – “Colours of Fire” (WINNER)

Other nominees: Mike Ezuruonye – “Oversabi Aunty”; Lateef Adedimeji – “Lisabi: A Legend Is Born”; William Benson – “To Kill A Monkey”; Kanayo O. Kanayo – “Grandpa Must Obey”; Khumbuza Meyiwa – “Bet I Love You”; Wale Ojo – “3 Cold Dishes”; Femi Branch – “Red Circle”

TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Uche Montana (WINNER)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Sola Sobowale, Kanayo O Kanayo

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (CENTRAL AFRICA)

“Mabanda” – Kang Quintus (WINNER)

Other nominees: “Safou (A Gift From Nature)” – Nyasha Makamba; “Golden Spoon” – Egbe Francis Ettabrown

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (NORTH AFRICA)

“Artal Alhanin: Our Memories” – Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Abdulraham Eldouma (WINNER)

Other nominees: “The Omnipresent” – Youssef Ben Khalifa; “The Delivery” – Abdalla Ezyan; “The Hidden Voice” – Houssem Eddine Abdelwahed; “This Is Portsaid” – Abdalla Ezyan

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (EAST AFRICA)

“Addis Fikir” – Leul Shoaferaw (WINNER)

Other nominees: “Inside Job” – Kamau Wandug’u, Joe Mahinda and Barbara Njeri Maina; “Sayari” – Omar Hamza and June Wairegi; “My Son” – Isarito Mwakalindile; “Kimote” – Hassan Mageye

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE FILM (SOUTH AFRICA)

“Tlhaho Ya Mosadi” – Naledi Galane, Promise Ramoroka, Ernest Ramoroka and Modipadi Mokgohioa (WINNER)

Other nominees: Bet I Love You” – Joseph Duke and Keamogetse Modise; “Sebata (The Beast)” – African Entertainers; “Ben Made It” – Thabang Mathuumetse and Thapelo Dikhutso; “Terra of Queens and Kuma 2” – Neo Leonardo Mokoena

BEST SCRIPTED SERIES

“Inimba” – Siphosethu Tshapu, Thandi Ramathesele and Yolanda Ndhlovu (WINNER)

Other nominees: “To Kill a Monkey” – Kemi Adetiba; “The Yard” – James Kalu Omokwe; “The Chocolate Empire” – Grace Kahaki and Philippe Bresson; “Kash Money” – Grace Kahaki and Phillipe Benson

BEST DIRECTOR

“My Father’s Shadow” – Akinola Davies Jr (WINNER)

Other nominees: “Cordelia” – Tunde Kelani; “Osamede” – James Kalu Omokwe; “The Herd” – Daniel Etim Effiong; “Gingerrr” – Yemi Filmboy Morafa; “3 Cold Dishes” – Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi

BEST MOVIE

“My Father’s Shadow” – Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel (WINNER)

Other nominees: “Gingerrr” – Ope Ajayi, Bisola Aiyeola, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Wumi Toriola, Bolaji Ogunmola and Onyeka Nnama; “The Herd” – Daniel Etim Effiong, Efe Ejukoriem, Ulogo Chukwudi, Kene Okwuosa, Craig Shurn and Ladun Awobokun; “3 Cold Dishes” – Martial Dansou, Asurf Amuwa Oluseyi and Ly Oumar; “The Serpent’s Gift” – Winifred Mena-Ajakpovi; “Behind the Scenes” – Funke Akindele and Wendy Uwadie Imaseun