Michael Ndika, the spouse of Nigerian Afro-house artist Niniola Apata, has passed away.
In the early hours of Wednesday, the Grammy-nominated performer published a number of heartfelt posts on her Instagram story.
Although the specifics of his passing have not been disclosed, Ndika, the CEO of NaijaReview, a multimedia portal devoted to Afro-house and contemporary African music, is said to have passed away.
In one of her posts, Niniola wrote, “God took him.”
In another, she stated, “My husband died.”
In a further emotional message, she added, “God took him. 13 years. 13 f***ing years,” alongside photos of the couple.
The musician has kept her life mostly private, away from the public eye and social media exposure, and has not revealed any more information on the circumstances surrounding his death.
ALSO READ: Niniola Apata Responds to Rumours That She Married Secretly
After being one of the most notable participants on Project Fame West Africa in 2013, Niniola, 39, became well-known throughout the country and entered the Nigerian music industry.
Since then, she has made a name for herself as one of the top Afro-house singers in the nation, and her 2017 hit song Maradona has garnered attention from international celebrities like Beyoncé, Drake, DJ Snake, and Timbaland.
In October 2025, Niniola Apata responded to rumours that she is secretly married.
Rumour had it that the “Maradona” crooner’s marriage was the reason for her lack of attention.
In a recent interview with Yanga FM Lagos, Niniola addressed the claims and explained that she is not yet married.
She refuted rumours that she was hiding her marriage to avoid any negative impact on her bookings or career.
The 38-year-old said, “I don’t care whatever anyone does or says [regarding my personal life]. After all, I’m not a 12-year-old. I’m old enough to say whatever it is I want to say with my full chest. I’m not married.”
Niniola explained why she hasn’t yet worked with her younger sister, singer Teni, saying that the correct conditions must be met.
There is no family in business, she added, underscoring the fact that music is a business. In August, Niniola cannot get over the trauma of watching her father, Simeon Apata, a retired Nigerian Army brigadier-general, being assassinated.
Gunmen assassinated Gen. Apata (rtd.) on January 8, 1995, in Lagos, in the presence of his family.
Revisiting the tragic incident in a recent interview with Jay On Air, Niniola said it is hard for her to get over it because she was her late father’s favourite child.
