After a prolonged battle with liver disease, veteran Nollywod actor, Maya Ndubuigbo, aka Papa Labista, has passed on.
This was announced by his son, through his face book account. Although news of his death filtered in on Friday, it was, however, officially announced in the early hours of Saturday by his son.
One of the oldest Nigerian actor, those cloes to him said, Ndubuigbo nursed swollen legs that had left him bedridden for several months.
It should be noted that in May, Nollywood actor cum producer, Ernest Obi, appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to contribute N1 million to offset Ndubuigbo’s hospital bills.
Obi’s appeal partly read, “Today he is not playing a role in any movie to entertain as usual. He is fighting for his life. His liver. He needs you. Needs me. Needs us. Please help save Elder Maya aka Papa Labista.”
Barely a few weeks after the appeal was made, veteran actor, Bruno Iwuoha, announced that The Senior Pastor of Champions Royal Assembly, Kubwa, Abuja, Joshua Iginla, had donated N1 million naira to save Njubuigbo.
Although whether the money was released or not could not be ascertained..
A great grandfather, Elder Maya, was known for his village chief priest roles in movies.
He was An actor, poet and singer, he gave over 20 years of his life to film. He earned the name Papa Labista from the film, Labista.
It has been confirmed, that he is the seventh Nollywood actor to die in 2016
Other deaths recorded in Nollywood this year are as follows:
January: A young actor, Olamide David, who played the lead role in Foluke Daramola’s movie, Cobweb, died after a brief illness.
February: Mike Odachi of ‘Igodo’ fame died at age 51 at the General Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos State after a brief illness.
February: veteran Actor Festus Aguebor died after an undisclosed ailment.
May: Nollywood actor, Fred Ebhoria Ekata, reportedly died of kidney disease, which left him bedridden for a year.
May: Budding actress, Genevieve Nene, passed on.
July: Veteran actress, Bukky Ajayi, passed on at the age of 82.