By Our Reporter
The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) has announced an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Nollywood Yoruba actress, Temitope Osoba, amid allegations linking her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko, to the controversial circumstances surrounding her demise.
Osoba, who was 40, died on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, sparking widespread reactions across the country, particularly because her death came shortly after she had publicly celebrated surviving breast cancer.
While details surrounding her death remain unclear, allegations concerning the role allegedly played by Onadeko have generated intense public debate and placed the Celestial Church of Christ under scrutiny.
Reacting to the controversy, the church said it was deeply saddened by Osoba’s death and concerned that a shepherd of the church had become the subject of allegations that had also dragged the name of the institution into the controversy.
In a statement signed by the Head of Media and Publicity, AVSE Kayode Ajala, the church described itself as a Bible-believing Christian organisation with strict spiritual and ethical guidelines.
The CCC categorically stated that there was no place in its doctrine for idolatry, black magic, cultism or the use of charms, adding that its members and shepherds are bound by the church’s constitution and code of conduct.
The church said the allegations against Onadeko were “quite embarrassing” and stressed that it would not remain passive while its reputation was allegedly being damaged by the controversy.
“As a church, we are already discreetly investigating the circumstances that led to the death of Temitope Osoba,” the statement said, assuring the public that it would “leave no stone unturned” in its efforts to establish the truth.
The church also called on the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into Osoba’s death, promising to cooperate with authorities to ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
According to the statement, the church’s Pastor and Spiritual Head Worldwide, His Eminence, Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa, has directed the internal machinery of the church to work towards ensuring that the truth emerges and justice is served.
The CCC further said that if the allegations against Onadeko were established at the conclusion of the investigations, he would face the appropriate internal disciplinary measures of the church as well as the full weight of the law.
The church expressed sympathy with Osoba’s family, friends and loved ones, and prayed for the peaceful repose of the actress.
The statement: “The announcement of the death of Temitope Osoba, a talented Nollywood Yoruba actress, on Wednesday, 5th August, 2026, has continued to generate heated and emotional reactions in the country’s media space. Expectedly so, as the circumstances surrounding her death remain shrouded, not only in mystery, but also in controversy.
“Many are pained that she died at the young age of 40, while others are irked that her death occurred at a time when the din occasioned by her celebration of surviving breast cancer had barely subsided. And for others still, the suspicion that her fiancé, one Prophet Itunu Onadeko of the Celestial Church of Christ, allegedly had a hand in her death, serves as the fuel for their blistering anger.
“For us in the Celestial Church of Christ, we are quite sad that a promising life has been cut short in its prime, and we not only share in the palpable grief of her immediate family, relations and the loved ones she left behind, we are also particularly disturbed and concerned that a Shepherd of our church, one Prophet Itunu Onadeko, is not only involved in this controversy, but has also dragged the name of the Celestial Church of Christ into an extremely disgusting mess.
“At this point, we wish to make it clear that the Celestial Church of Christ is a Christian Bible believing religious church. Our worship is divinely inspired. There is absolutely no room for idolatry, black magic, cultism, and the use of charms in our church. Indeed, the Celestial Church of Christ operates under very strict spiritual tenets and a code of conduct clearly outlined in the church’s constitution.
“The murky allegations surrounding the involvement of Prophet Itunu Onadeko are, to say the least, quite embarrassing to the Celestial Church of Christ. *And we are not folding our arms and watching from the kerb, as the name and image of our church is dragged and battered by the alleged involvement of Prophet Itunu Onadeko in the untimely death of Temitope Osoba.
“As a church, we are already discreetly investigating the circumstances that led to the death of Temitope Osoba, and we wish to assure the general public that the Celestial Church of Christ would leave no stone unturned to unearth the truth, and to ensure that anyone found culpable in the death of Temitope Osoba is brought to justice.
“We are also calling on the Police and all relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that the death of Temitope Osoba is properly and thoroughly investigated with a view to ensuring that justice is served. The Celestial Church of Christ is ready to work hand-in-hand with the relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that all culprits are brought to book.
“His Eminence, Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa, Pastor and Spiritual Head of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, wishes to assure the family of the deceased, and the general public that the internal machinery of the church is working round the clock to ensure that the truth prevails and justice is served in this matter.
“If the allegations against Prophet Itunu Onadeko of the Celestial Church of Christ are found to be true at the end of ongoing investigations, he would not only be made to face the internal sanctions of the church, but he would also be made to face the full length of the law.”
The circumstances surrounding the actress’s death remain subject to investigation, and the allegations against Onadeko have not been established as fact.
