Nollywood actress Toyosi Adesanya has accused some of her colleagues in the entertainment industry of refusing to support the burial of late actress Temitope Osoba, alleging that they cited her non membership of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria as their reason for staying away.

Adesanya made the claim on Tuesday while speaking at a candlelight procession and artistes’ night organised in Ikeja, Lagos State, to honour the memory of Osoba, who died last week at the age of 40.

The actress, who serves as the National Director of Social and Welfare for TAMPAN, represented the association’s president, Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin, at the event.

Speaking to those gathered, Adesanya condemned what she described as deception and eye service among practitioners in the industry, urging colleagues to support one another both in life and in death rather than showing solidarity only after tragedy strikes. She called on actors and other industry figures to begin celebrating and appreciating one another while they are still alive instead of waiting until death to express affection publicly.

Osoba’s passing has stirred considerable emotion and controversy within Nollywood, coming just months after she had shared her battle with breast cancer and publicly appealed for financial assistance with her treatment. In August last year, she had announced her return to acting following surgery, telling fans she had been declared cancer free and describing the period as one of rebranding and rebuilding. Her death has since prompted debate among colleagues and fans over how much support she actually received from within the industry, both during her illness and after her passing.

Her burial had initially been scheduled to hold on Thursday at Saint James Anglican Church in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, though her family has since announced that the ceremony will no longer proceed as earlier planned. The circumstances surrounding her death have also drawn scrutiny, with some colleagues, including actor Yomi Fabiyi, calling for a postponement pending a police investigation into claims that have circulated since her passing.