A report has gone viral online that the Daar Communications’ Raymond Dokpesi, has tested positive for Covid-19. The shocking news came at a time the index cases of those affected by the virus is on the increase. Also, worrisome is the fact that his children have tested for the dreaded virus as well.

A major issue so far as Covid-19 is concerned is how it spreads. How Dokpesi got infected is not clear, but it is obvious that someone in his household must have been the first carrier of the virus.
It’s like a chain — Mr. A contacts it, he spreads it to B, C, D, and E, and B,C,D and E go out and the spread continues.

Raymond Dokpesi had gone out to many places, even to the Court. As stated in a recent report by one Leke Atolagbe, Raymond Dokpesi had a matter at the Court of Appeal, Abuja on Monday, 27th April, 2020, he was also in Court with him.

He narrated that on the 27th day of April, 2020, when he saw Dr. Raymond Dokpesi walk towards him while he stood with another counsel in the Court, he didn’t feel there was any danger in exchanging pleasantries with him, that he has always done that in open court at the trial court and he looked very healthy.

He narrated further:

“By evening of the same 27/4/2020, only shortly after the proceedings in court I read in the news that Raymond Dokpesi Jnr was covid-19 positive. I tried to be unshaken. Then yesterday Dr. Raymond Dokpesi himself was reported to be covid-19 positive.

“He and several of his people were at the Court of Appeal with many of us lawyers. His own lawyers must have had closer contacts with him while preparing for the proceeding of that day.

“I believe it is not safe for courts to start sitting now. It is very risky. Please help us beg the Courts to stop sitting.”

The above statement shows that Dokpesi was in Court, and some lawyers were also in Court with him. Although Mr. Leke Atolagbe and other lawyers didn’t shake hands with Dokpesi, having maintained social distancing, other lawyers were close to him.

If Dokpesi was in Court as a carrier of the virus, it then means that the lawyers who perhaps exchanged pleasantries with him are now suspected carriers. Yes, chances cannot be taken. This calls for a trace.

This sums up the statement of Leke Atolagbe which is that, Coast is Not Clear For Courts To Sit because courts are at risk now.

There is a lot of lessons to be learnt. Although some Courts or Tribunals may be exempted from the lockdown, lawyers must do well to avoid any form of social contact. At this crucial time in the history of the Nigerian Judiciary, caution must not be thrown to the wind.

Because that little exchange of pleasantries may be an invitation to the pandemic.