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Family, friends and colleagues from the Nigerian film industry gathered in Arochukwu, Abia State, on Thursday to lay the late Nollywood actor, Alexx Ekubo, to rest.

The 40-year-old screen icon passed away on May 11, 2026, following a battle with metastatic kidney cancer.

Ahead of the final interment at their family house on Thursday, a funeral service and subsequent reception were held at the Mary Slessor School Field in Amanagwu Village, Arochukwu.

Viral videos circulating from the funeral service captured the emotional moment the actor’s casket was brought in, drawing tears from family members and prominent colleagues who travelled to the Southeast to pay their final respects.

The burial drew an array of notable personalities from the entertainment and business sectors, including his close associate IK Ogbonna, Mike Godson, AY Makun, Ini Edo, Nancy Isime, Bimbo Ademoye, and business mogul Obi Cubana.

Following the open-air service, the procession will return to the privacy of the family house, where the actor will be interred today in accordance with the family’s announcement.

PUNCH reports that the funeral arrangements spanned over a week, commencing on June 10 in Lagos with a service of songs, during which tributes poured in from family, friends and colleagues of the late actor.

A wake-keep ceremony was subsequently held at the family house located at Ekubo-Okwaraeke Avenue, Aziukwukwa Ujari Village, on Wednesday, June 17, where Alexx will also be buried.

Credit: PUNCH

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Hollywood actress Daveigh Chase, known for her roles in the horror film The Ring and Disney’s animated feature Lilo & Stitch, has passed away at the age of 35.

John Ryan Jr, her longtime manager, confirmed her passing during an interview with BBC News, revealing that she was taken to the hospital for malnutrition before her death.

Her health, however, got complicated and progressed to a bloodstream infection and, eventually, sepsis.

“She was the greatest. She adored cats. She collaborated with us on cat rescue efforts. She’d like to eat at Bob’s Big Boy and return home with the pets. She enjoyed acting but was not interested in the famous scene,” Ryan said.

Chase was known for her role in the horror film, The Ring.

She once revealed that she enjoyed playing such a wicked character.

“This is not the average character. Typically, they are searching for a happy-go-lucky kid, but Samara was an intriguing role to play.

“I just took my own voice and gave it this freaky twist,” she told the Los Angeles Times in 2002.

Her management noted that the actress had largely stepped back from mainstream Hollywood projects and full-time acting in 2015, choosing to focus her later years on independent films and animal rescue initiatives.

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Nollywood actress Judy Austin has responded to allegations made by her ex-husband, Mr. Obasi, during a recent podcast interview, describing his claims as false and defamatory.

In a strongly worded statement, Judy revealed that she first met her current husband, Yul Edochie, on a movie set in 2015 after her marriage to Obasi had already ended. She maintained that she had no interest in acting at the time and dismissed suggestions that her relationship with Yul began while she was still married.

The actress expressed shock that Obasi continues to make accusations against her despite, according to her, having done nothing wrong to him.

“It is shocking that a man I have done nothing wrong against continues to tell lies about me,” she said.

Judy also challenged claims made by Obasi regarding their children, accusing him of contradicting himself. According to her, while he claimed during the podcast that he does not know the whereabouts of the children, he simultaneously called on Yul Edochie to release them.

She further alleged that Obasi had been influenced by individuals seeking to tarnish her reputation, saying, “I know you have been bought over to come and destroy my name.”

The actress insisted that she has never prevented her ex-husband from seeing their children and claimed that his visits were largely intended to showcase his new wife to her family.

Warning that she would seek legal redress, Judy stated that all allegations made against her would have to be defended in court.