The national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, announced that the comedian died of a cardiac arrest,  according to his manager, Don Single Nwuzor.

The Nigerian public was largely unaware of Mr Ibu’s health issues until he shared a video of himself celebrating his 62^nd birthday inside a hospital room.

In the video, the actor was wearing a hospital gown, visibly in discomfort with a swollen left leg, as his family sang him a birthday song.

Before cutting his birthday cake, the ill actor said a short prayer, including praying for peace. His condition worried fans who flooded the comment section with prayers for him.

A day after his birthday post, the actor and his family posted another video asking for help to sort out his medical bills.

The actor said he’d been sick for weeks and doctors had suggested the amputation of his leg to save his life. “If they cut off my leg, where will I go to? I don’t want my leg to be cut off,” he said.

His family said the cash donations would help him fly abroad for better treatment, as he’d been ill on and off for years.