A Nigerian businessman and social media influencer who died in March was buried in a gold coffin reportedly costing over $600,000, with Nigerian music star Davido among the mourners.
An inquest at the Inner West London Coroners’ Court has ruled that Igho “Tiny” Ubiribo, 43, died from a pulmonary embolism caused by a cosmetic procedure he underwent in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ubiribo was on vacation with his wife, Danielle Simba Allen, when he received 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine injected into his genitalia at an unnamed clinic.
Shortly after the procedure, he complained of chest pain and fainted twice during a massage at their hotel. He was rushed to Sukhumvit Hospital, where doctors recommended a CT scan after his wife informed them about the filler injections. He lost consciousness before the scan could be performed.
Doctors determined he had suffered a pulmonary embolism, a clot blocking a blood vessel in the lungs. He was transferred to intensive care, where medics performed CPR for more than 100 minutes. He died in the early hours of 6 March 2026.
A UK postmortem found cellular material in his lungs matching the hyaluronic acid used in the filler. Pathologist John du Parcq said: “Cellular material found in Mr Ubiribo’s lungs matched the hyaluronic acid used in his penis filler jab, in keeping with a pulmonary embolism. This matches the Thai autopsy.”
Coroner Jean Harkin officially ruled that the cosmetic procedure directly caused the fatal pulmonary embolism.
Ubiribo’s primary care doctor in London confirmed he was pre-diabetic and had gout, but no other major health conditions. He had previously undergone an operation on his joints.
The influencer was known for documenting his lavish lifestyle. He spent much of his time at his $1.1 million mansion in Los Angeles and owned a $600,000 apartment in Shepherd’s Bush, London.
His funeral was held in Kensington, where he was buried in a gold coffin. Davido, his childhood friend, spoke at the service.
“The events don’t feel real. This is heavy,” Davido said.
Ubiribo married Danielle Simba Allen, an Anglo-Zimbabwean socialite and fashion designer, in an extravagant ceremony in Zimbabwe in 2022.
The inquest has now formally closed the case, with the coroner’s verdict identifying the cosmetic procedure as the direct cause of death.
