Nollywood actor IK Ogbonna and luxury car dealer Francis Nwaogwugu Udochukwu, known as Vintage, have arrived in Arochukwu, Abia State, for the final burial rites of their late friend and colleague Alexx Ekubo. The actor passed away on May 11, 2026, at age 40 after a private battle with advanced metastatic kidney cancer.
Images circulating on social media show Ogbonna and Vintage standing in front of a large marquee, actively making preparations for the funeral service. Ogbonna wore black as a sign of mourning, while Vintage dressed in white. The two were seen alongside other men planning the programs that will take place in the community.
The burial arrangements span multiple days. A Service of Songs was held on June 10 at The Monarch Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos, where Ogbonna broke down while speaking about his friend. The emotional tribute saw him fighting back tears as he addressed the gathering.
The wake keep is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, at the family residence on 7 Ekubo-Okwaraeke Avenue in Aziukwukwa, Ujari Village, Arochukwu. The funeral service and interment will follow on Thursday, June 18, at Mary Slessor School in Amanagwu Village, with a reception immediately after.
Ogbonna and Ekubo shared one of the most admired friendships in Nollywood. A resurfaced video from a year before Ekubo’s death showed the late actor acting as the ultimate hype man during one of Ogbonna’s commercial shoots, laughing and joking together in an unbreakable brotherhood.
At the Service of Songs, Ogbonna spoke directly to his fallen friend: “I only wish you were alive to witness the love people are showing you right now. I’m glad I had you, not just as a friend, but as a brother. You were indeed a soldier, a wise man, a light in every room you entered, and a man full of life. One of those people that you can never imagine would die because he carried life wherever he went”.
The entertainment industry continues to mourn. Abia State Governor Alex Otti has begun fixing the road to Ekubo’s country home in Arochukwu ahead of the final rites and promised financial support for the family . Attendees at all ceremonies are expected to wear white.
