The family of late Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba has postponed her burial indefinitely, days after calls emerged for an autopsy and police investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
In a statement, the family of Tope Osoba announced that the burial ceremony, previously scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 2026, has been postponed until further notice. The family said the decision followed a Candlelight and Artist’s Night held in her honour, and that the postponement was made “to allow for further arrangements and necessary conclusions.”
The family asked for the public’s “understanding, patience, prayers, and continued support during this difficult and sensitive period,” adding that a new burial date and venue would be communicated once outstanding matters are resolved.
Osoba’s death was announced on her official Instagram page on August 5, 2026, when she was 40 years old. Her family had initially announced that she would be buried at Saint James Anglican Church in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, on August 13, followed by interment at Iperu Remo Cemetery, with mourners asked to dress in white.
Following her death, conflicting accounts emerged about its cause. While some attributed it to her earlier battle with breast cancer, her family disputed this without specifying an alternative cause. Her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko, offered a different account, claiming she died inside a police station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, rather than from cancer-related complications. He said he received a call around midnight informing him that she had died at the police station.
Actor and human rights advocate Yomi Fabiyi called for the burial to be put on hold, urging authorities to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances of her death. Fabiyi made the call in a statement issued on behalf of the Break the Silence Foundation, a human rights organisation, which said it was concerned about the absence of an autopsy and forensic examination.
In his statement, Fabiyi described allegations and rumours of rape, possible murder and extortion surrounding her death as “disturbing,” and said the burial “should be on hold” pending investigation. He also said his organisation intended to engage directly with the Lagos State Police Command to track the progress of any investigation and determine whether foul play was involved. “If the autopsy is not ongoing, please let it be done before burial,” he wrote, warning against a hurried burial that might later require exhumation.
It is important to note that the allegations referenced in Fabiyi’s statement have not been established as fact based on available information, and no official cause of death or police findings have been publicly confirmed at this time.
With the burial now postponed indefinitely, attention is likely to turn to whether Lagos State Police or other authorities open a formal investigation into Osoba’s death, and whether an autopsy is conducted before any rescheduled burial. The family has not indicated when a new date will be announced.
