Nigerian actor Odira Nwobu dies at 43 during South Africa trip

Nigerian actor Odira Nwobu dies in South Africa

The Nigerian film industry has been plunged into mourning following the sudden death of Nollywood actor Odira Nwobu, who passed away in South Africa at the age of 43.

His lawyer, Chukwujiekwu Chukwudi, alongside the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, confirmed the heartbreaking news and shared new details about the star’s final hours.

Nwobu, known for his roles in more than 60 movies, died on Monday, 24 November 2025, while staying at a hotel in Benoni, Johannesburg.

Although the exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed, his legal representative said they are still awaiting the results of the official postmortem.

Moments before his death, Odira had reportedly returned to his hotel room after spending the evening out with colleagues.

His lawyer revealed that he was later found in distress, struggling to breathe.

An ambulance was immediately called, and paramedics attempted to revive him using a defibrillator.

Despite their efforts, “Odira died at the scene,” Chukwudi said, noting that the actor had been completely alone when the incident occurred.

The president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, also shed light on why Nwobu was in South Africa.

He explained that the actor had travelled with a group of influencers for a business engagement and was helping promote a real estate company owned by a Nigerian entrepreneur.

His lawyer had joined the trip in an official capacity as the organisation’s legal adviser.