The Celestial Church of Christ has commenced a discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba, amid allegations involving her fiancé, Prophet Itunu Onadeko.

The church disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head of Media and Publicity Worldwide, AVSE Kayode Ajala, as concerns continue to emerge over the circumstances surrounding the 40-year-old actress’ final moments.

The development follows growing public attention to the case, particularly the allegations involving Onadeko, who is a shepherd of the church. The church said it was concerned that the controversy had not only linked one of its ministers to the matter but had also brought its name and teachings into public discourse.

The church expressed sadness over Osoba’s death, describing her as a promising young woman whose life was cut short. It extended its condolences to her family, friends and other loved ones who have been affected by her death.

“For us in the Celestial Church of Christ, we are quite sad that a promising life has been cut short in its prime,” the statement said.

The church said the circumstances surrounding the actress’ death were being taken seriously and confirmed that it had begun an internal inquiry to establish what happened.

Church begins discreet inquiry

According to Ajala, the church is already examining the events that preceded Osoba’s death.

“As a church, we are already discreetly investigating the circumstances that led to the death of Temi,” the statement said.

The church did not provide details about the scope of the investigation or disclose the specific steps being taken. It also did not state when the inquiry would be concluded.

The decision to investigate comes as allegations surrounding Osoba’s relationship with Onadeko continue to generate public interest. However, the church maintained a cautious position and did not present the allegations against its shepherd as established facts.

The inquiry is expected to help the church understand the circumstances surrounding the death and determine whether any of its members or structures were involved in conduct contrary to its rules and teachings.

Church distances doctrine from alleged practices

The Celestial Church also sought to clarify its position on allegations involving practices such as idolatry, black magic, cultism and the use of charms.

The church described itself as a Christian, Bible-believing religious organisation and said its worship is based on divine inspiration.

“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],” the statement read.

The clarification appears aimed at separating the church’s official doctrine from claims and descriptions of practices that have surfaced in connection with the controversy.

The church stressed that such practices have no place within its religious teachings, reinforcing its position that it does not endorse activities associated with idolatry, occultism or the use of charms.

Allegations remain unproven

While the allegations involving Osoba’s fiancé have continued to attract attention, they have not been established as facts.

The church’s decision to investigate should therefore not be interpreted as a confirmation of any of the claims against Onadeko.

The circumstances surrounding Osoba’s death remain subject to investigation, and any definitive conclusion will depend on the findings of the relevant authorities and other credible inquiries.

The church has consequently refrained from making a final pronouncement on what led to the actress’ death or whether anyone bears responsibility for it.

Family mourns actress

The death of Osoba has left her family, friends, colleagues and other members of the entertainment industry mourning the loss.

The Celestial Church said it identified with the grief of those close to the actress and expressed concern over the loss of what it described as a promising life.

The church’s statement also reflects its desire to address concerns arising from the case while allowing the facts to emerge through investigation.

As inquiries continue, the church is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Osoba’s final days and its shepherd’s connection to the matter.

For now, the church has urged caution in the handling of the allegations, while reaffirming its Christian identity and rejecting practices that it says are incompatible with its doctrine.

The outcome of the investigation could provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding Temitope Osoba’s death and help address questions that have continued to surround the case.