After attending the 80th birthday party of the Nigerian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, Justice George Oguntade, on March 10, in London, business mogul, Razaq Okoya and former Ogun State Governor, Segun Osoba have gone into self-isolation .
Mr. Demola Seriki, a son-in-law to the founder of Eleganza Group of companies, Razaq Okoya, confirmed to The PUNCH on Wednesday that the industrialist had gone into self-isolation.
Seriki however, said Okoya tested negative to COVID-19.
Seriki, who is a former Minister of State for Defence, said indeed Okoya attended the 80th birthday party of the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Justice George Oguntade, on March 10, 2020.
He told The PUNCH: “It is true that Chief Okoya and many others attended the birthday anniversary of Justice Oguntade in London two weeks ago.
“Since the news emerged that two people who attended the party died of coronavirus, Chief Okoya has done a test and he was negative. He is, however, in self-isolation.”
Also Osoba said he arrived in Nigeria on Thursday last week and went into self-isolation as prescribed by the Lagos State Government.
Osoba, who said there was no cause for alarm, stated that at 81 if the virus was in his body it would have manifested because the party took place 15 days ago.
“Yes, I was at the party and it is true that two people had died but a lot of unnecessary alarm is being raised, although, I sympathise with the families of those who died.
“It does not follow that they contracted the virus at the party, they probably might have been carrying it in their bodies and manifested soon after the party.
“But I was there and the party took place 15 days ago and if there is any virus in my body it should have manifested by now. I came back last Thursday almost a week today and as I landed, I granted an interview to TVC at the airport, considering the action that the Lagos State Government has been taking. I announced that I will be going into self- isolation immediately.
“I have been in self-isolation since I returned from the UK and I have had no symptom, no cough, no fever nor itches in my throat and I have been keeping to the rules as given by the government of Lagos State that all of us who arrived from abroad should isolate ourselves for 14 days.
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Also, Publisher of Ovation, Dele Momodu, who attended the birthday party, said he could not confirm his status as doctors refused to administer the test on him since he had shown no symptoms of the disease.
He tweeted, “I have been inundated with phone calls and a deluge of messages regarding an 80th birthday celebration that I attended in London recently.
“It now appears that at least one person who was believed to have had the COVID-19 attended the party and he has subsequently died as a result of complications arising from the disease and/or other underlying conditions.
“As soon as the news broke, I immediately made arrangements yesterday night to have myself tested for the virus although I have not exhibited any of the symptoms associated with the virus.
“I called a senior Lagos State official and was informed by the relevant authorities that since I had not shown any symptoms in 14 days after the London party, no test was necessary.”
Some others that attended the birthday party include: Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and his wife; wife of a former Governor of Lagos State, Abimbola Fashola; and Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, wife of the immediate past Lagos governor.
A real estate guru, Olu Okeowo; Mrs. Sade Okoya, Chairman of Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh, and his wife; the All Progressives Congress chieftain, Mrs. Kemi Nelson; Lagos State Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola; a former Lagos Deputy Governor, Sarah Sosan; and Senator Lanre Tejuosho.
The wife of the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Aisha Bichi; Iyalode of Lagos, Bintu Tinubu and former Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and wife.
A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maj.Gen Ike Nwachukwu (retired), and wife; comedian Tee A, Oba Saheed Elegushi, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs Hajo Sani; and socialite, Mrs. Nkiru Anumudu; were also at the party.
Okeowo, in a statement on Wednesday said, “If we want to live to be 80, we should stop putting octogenarians in derision. I was at the occasion and I gladly played the organ to celebrate an old friend who has been there for me forever. I am alive and so are my wife and son. And today is day 14 (after the incident).”
On her part, Shagaya said, “When I came back (from the event), I isolated myself for some days to observe if I would show any symptoms. But after few days without any sign of fever or cough, I came out (of isolation).
Meanwhile, Governor Abiodun and his wife, Bamidele, who attended the birthday party in London few weeks ago, have tested negative.
