Kogi Status Controversy: Family member of COVID-19 case affirms NCDC verdict

A family member of the Imam at the centre of the Kogi State COVID-19 controversy, Tai Ejibunu, has described the report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as authentic.

Ejibunu speaking with AIT Live via the phone said the chief imam is responding to treatment. He also confirmed that some of the family members have been tested as contacts of the confirmed case.

The NCDC for the first time on Wednesday, reported two confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kogi state which the state government has vehemently denied saying the state is still coronavirus free.

Commissioner for Health, Saka Haruna, in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja said the normal NCDC protocol is to collect samples through the state ministries of health where an epidemiological form will be filled by the state epidemiologist and a sample number attached to accompany the sample to the laboratory for onward testing which he said did not happen.

He called on Nigerians to start asking NCDC what they stand to gain by reporting what he called manufacturing of fictitious cases and their eagerness to confirm them. (Agency Report/Daily Independent)