Raymond Dokpesi, the Nigerian media titan has tested positive for COVID 19. Seven of Mr Dokpesi’s family members including his son, also tested positive for the disease. Mr Dokpesi, who is a local High Chief, is the founder and chairman of the DAAR Group, a diversified media company. He made his money in shipping before venturing into the media.
He has extensive interests in the media and owns one of Nigeria’s leading television broadcasters Africa Independent Television (AIT). He came into national reckoning when he started the first private radio station in Nigeria and has also been involved in national politics where he is one of the leaders of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Dokpesi, a staunch supporter of the former president Goodluck Jonathan, is a vocal critic of President Buhari and the ruling All Progressives’ Congress (APC). He has had battles with several government agencies in the past few years since his party lost the general elections in 2015. He was accused of money laundering by the nation’s anti-corruption watchdog the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arraigned and jailed for several weeks. His company’s flagship Africa Independent Television has also had issues with the broadcast regulator Nigeria Broadcasting Commission NBC which accused it of failing to pay its licensing fees and disseminating falsehood and hate speech.