Nigerian Afro-house star Niniola Apata has announced the heartbreaking death of her husband, Michael Ndika, after 13 years of marriage.

The Grammy-nominated artist shared the sad news in a series of emotional Instagram Stories posted in the early hours of Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

“God took him,” Niniola wrote in one post. “My husband died,” she added in another, while expressing deep grief in a third: “God took him. 13 years. 13 f***ing years.”

Michael Ndika, also known as Big Mike or X.O, served as Niniola’s manager and was the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform promoting Afro-house and contemporary African music. The couple had kept their marriage largely private, surprising many fans who were unaware of the union.

No details have been released about the cause of Ndika’s death. Tributes and messages of condolence have poured in from fans, fellow artists, and the music community, including her sister, singer Teni.

Niniola, celebrated for hits like “Maradona” and her contributions to the Afro-house genre, is now receiving an outpouring of support as she mourns the loss of her longtime partner.

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) declared that it approved and classified 304 films between January and April 2026.

In a statement, Director of Film Censorship and Classification at the board, Deborah Malgwi, said that the figure represented an increase from the 267 films classified during the same period in 2025.

Classification data released by the board shows that January 2026 recorded the highest number of approvals with 102 films, followed by 83 in February, 77 in March and 42 in April.

In comparison, the board classified 25 films in January 2025, 58 in February, 114 in March and 70 in April of the same year.

The statistics also showed that English-language productions dominated the industry with 201 films classified within the period under review. Igbo-language productions accounted for 44 films, while Yoruba recorded 42. Hindi films stood at nine, Hausa productions accounted for five, while Bini-language films recorded three classifications.

Further analysis indicated that most productions fell within the “15” and “18” age categories, reflecting prevailing themes in contemporary film productions.

•Alexx Ekubo

Popular Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has died at the age of 40 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

According to The Sun Nigeria, family sources said the actor passed away on Monday, May 11, 2026, following months of illness.

Alexx Ekubo’s absence from the public eye had raised concerns among fans and colleagues, as he had stayed away from social media for an extended period.

The actor’s last social media post was made in December 2024, shortly after news broke that his engagement had been called off.

Known for his versatility on screen and widely admired for his striking looks, Ekubo built a successful career in Nollywood, featuring in numerous hit films and television productions.