Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday has spoken about the sudden death of her colleague, Chijioke Temidayo Nwokafor, popularly known as Cjay, while also addressing questions surrounding her highly anticipated celebrity boxing bout with reality TV star Phyna.
Cjay’s death was announced by Nkechi Blessing on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, after the actor was pronounced dead at a hospital in Badore, Lagos. The actress shared an emotional video while announcing the news and later paid tribute to the late actor.
The cause of Cjay’s death has not been publicly disclosed by his family or colleagues.
Speaking about the actor’s death, Nkechi Blessing revealed how difficult it was for her to process the news.
According to the actress, she spoke with Cjay at about 8 a.m. on the day he died. She reportedly received news of his death only a few hours later.
Her reaction to the news was particularly emotional because she said they still had plans together.
Cjay was also part of the cast of Nkechi Blessing’s movie, “Egusi Ogbono,” which had been scheduled for release on Wednesday evening.
Following his death, the actress cancelled the planned release of the movie as a way of honouring her late colleague.
Actress cancels movie release after Cjay’s death
Nkechi Blessing had initially announced that Egusi Ogbono would be released at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
However, after learning of Cjay’s death, she decided not to release the movie as scheduled.
The actress explained that Cjay was part of the project and that releasing the film immediately after his death did not feel appropriate to her.
The decision has since attracted reactions from fans and colleagues, many of whom have joined her in mourning the actor.
Nkechi addresses her fight with Phyna
Amid the emotional period following Cjay’s death, attention has also remained on the celebrity boxing match between Nkechi Blessing and Phyna.
The two entertainers are scheduled to face each other on October 1 as part of the “Chaos in the Ring” celebrity boxing event at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos.
Nkechi Blessing has now made it clear to her fans that the boxing match remains part of the plans.
The actress explained that while she has control over her own movie and could decide not to release it, the boxing event is not something she has the same control over.
In other words, her decision to cancel the release of Egusi Ogbono was hers to make, while the boxing bout involves organisers, another participant and an already scheduled event.
‘The fight will still hold’
Nkechi’s comments have given fans an indication that the planned fight with Phyna is still expected to go ahead.
The actress has been preparing for the bout for several weeks, with both entertainers publicly training and exchanging words ahead of their scheduled meeting in the ring.
The fight has attracted considerable attention because it follows a public disagreement between the two women that moved from social media exchanges into a physical confrontation during a television programme.
Reports from the earlier confrontation said crew members had to intervene and separate them.
Both women have since continued preparations for the celebrity boxing event.
From online disagreement to the boxing ring
The disagreement between Nkechi Blessing and Phyna reportedly began after an issue involving a movie role and subsequently escalated through social media exchanges.
Rather than ending with online arguments, the dispute eventually became part of the promotional build-up to the celebrity boxing event.
Organisers have billed their contest as “Phyna vs Nkechi” under the Chaos in the Ring series.
The October 1 event is expected to feature other celebrity boxing contests, with the Phyna-Nkechi bout becoming one of the major attractions of the Independence Day programme.
A difficult day for Nkechi Blessing
For Nkechi Blessing, October 1 comes at the end of an emotional period following the sudden death of someone she worked with closely.
While she has cancelled her movie release following Cjay’s death, her comments indicate that the planned boxing event is being treated differently because it is an organised event involving several parties.
Cjay’s death has meanwhile continued to generate tributes across Nollywood, with colleagues and fans expressing shock over his sudden passing.
As of the time of publication, details surrounding the late actor’s funeral arrangements had not been announced.
For now, attention remains divided between tributes to Cjay and the scheduled celebrity boxing clash between Nkechi Blessing and Phyna.
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