A colleague of late Nollywood actor and content creator Odira Nwobu has given a detailed account of the final hours leading to the actor’s sudden death in South Africa, describing the incident as a painful and unexpected loss.
According to him, Odira had suffered a severe episode of heart palpitations two days before his passing, prompting a visit to a nearby pharmacy where his blood pressure was checked and recorded at 171.
He said “the pharmacist warned that the reading was dangerously high and could have led to a stroke if left unchecked”. Odira was placed on medication and appeared to stabilize afterward.
The colleague revealed that on the Sunday before his death, Odira went out with friends but failed to take his BP medication. Later that night, he began complaining of weakness and persistent fatigue. Despite his discomfort, he still joined friends at a club and even uploaded videos online, which made everyone assume he was fine.
Hours after returning to his apartment, the colleague said they received a distress call that Odira’s heart was “beating fast again.” Efforts to move him to the hospital were delayed due to South African emergency protocols requiring medical personnel to assess a non-responsive patient before transport. When paramedics finally arrived, Odira was pronounced dead shortly before 3 a.m.
Speaking in the video circulating online, the colleague confirmed that an autopsy will be carried out, saying, “autopsy is going to be conducted and in 5 days I will be the one to post it,” but added that based on everything that happened, “I can assure you he died a natural death.”
Odira Nwobu, known for his comedic roles, vibrant online presence, and appearances in numerous Nollywood films, had also survived a major car accident earlier in the year, making his sudden death even more shocking to fans and colleagues.
The actor’s passing has sparked widespread grief across the entertainment industry, with many describing him as full of life, hardworking, and deeply loved both on and off screen.