By JACOB KUBEKA, Abuja –
Founder and Chairman of Daar Communications Plc, owners of Raypower FM and Africa International Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has tested positive for COVID-19, along with eight other family members.
The management of AIT confirmed this in a statement on Friday.
The other members of Dokpesi’s family also said to have been infected with the novel virus are his daughter-in-law and three grandchildren, as well as four other relations.
Prior to this development, one of the media mogul’s sons, Dokpesi Jnr, had been confirmed positive for the virus and admitted to an Isolation Centre.
The son’s infection may have prompted the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to conduct tests on the other Dokpesis in line with the standard contact tracing efforts by the agency.
The statement AIT/Raypower reads thus:
“Following the test that was carried out on our Chairman- Chief Raymond Dokpesi Jnr on Thursday April 23, 2020 by the NCDC which eventually proved positive and his subsequent admission into the isolation centre on Friday April 24, 2020;
“We wish to state that in conformity with the Federal Government protocol on the COVID 19 administration and management, his entire household and those that had contacts with him were subsequently subjected to the test and with so much emotional pains.
“We hereby announce that the under listed have equally been confirmed positive:
“1) High Chief Aleogho Dokpesi (His Father/ Founder DAAR Communications PLC)
2) Our chairman’s wife
3) His 3 Children
4) Some Relatives, a total of 8.
They are all presently on their way to the Federal Government isolation centre at Gwagwalada in Abuja.
“The Board, Management and the entire staff wish them their prayers and the grace of the good Lord for speedy recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic.”