Lawan, in a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser (Media) to President of the Senate, Ola Awoniyi, expressed his grief over the death of media mogul and founder of the first private television and radio station in Nigeria, African Independent Television and RayPower FM, respectively.

Lawan, in the statement titled ‘Senate President Mourns Media Mogul Raymond Dokpesi,’ described the death as a great loss to the Nigerian polity and media industry “in the light of his immense contributions to politics and the evolution of private media in Nigeria and Africa.”

The Senate president noted that it was to the credit of Dokpesi that he established the first private television network in Nigeria, Africa’s first private satellite television and first privately-owned radio station in Nigeria.

He said, “I commiserate with the immediate family of Dr Raymond Dokpesi, staff of AIT/RayPower FM radio and the media industry at large on this great loss. They should all be consoled that Dr Dokpesi made his mark in business, politics and the media industry and lived a fulfilled life.”

Gbajabiamila equally described Dopkesi as a patriotic Nigerian who would be sorely missed.

In a separate statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity House of Representatives, Lanre Lasisi, Gbajabiamila said he received the news of the death of media entrepreneur with rude shock, noting that Dokpesi has left a vacuum in the Nigerian media industry as the pioneer of private radio station in Nigeria.

The speaker, in the statement titled ‘Gbajabiamila Sad Over Dopkesi’s Death,’ recalled how the late businessman combined his media entrepreneurship with politics, which he said, provided the late owner of AIT/Raypower FM the opportunity to appreciate leadership in the country.

In the same vein, the Minority Caucus in the House said he was “shocked and grieve-stricken” by the news of Dokpesi’s death.

In a statement issued by the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, titled ‘Reps Minority Caucus Mourns Chief Raymond Dokpesi,’ the opposition lawmakers described the media mogul as “a highly resourceful, respected and accomplished entrepreneur, very brilliant, humble and insightful touch bearer; a remarkable philanthropist who remained steadfast towards the unity, stability and development of our nation and served as a source of inspiration to many especially the younger generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.”

The caucus partly said, “High Chief Dokpesi was a global citizen and his death is a huge loss to our dear nation and humanity at large. He will be greatly missed as his legacies will continue to live and impact lives for many more years to come.

“The Minority Caucus deeply commiserates with the Dokpesi family, the Daar Communication Group, the Government and people of Edo State and the Weppa-Wanno Kingdom at this moment of grief and prays to the Almighty God to grant us all the fortitude to bear this devastating loss and to the faithful departed, an eternal rest.”

Similarly, the DG of NILDS described the death of Dokpesi as a great loss to the nation.

Sulaiman, a former Minister of National Planning, made the remarks in a condolence message titled ‘Prof Sulaiman Describes Dokpesi’s Death as Great Loss to the Nation.’

Sulaiman said, “He was a prominent figure in the media industry, and his contributions have left a lasting impact. My heartfelt condolences to the Dokpesi family and the entire staff of AIT and Raypower FM.

“His departure is a significant loss for the entire media landscape. He was a pioneer and a visionary who consistently pushed the boundaries of journalism and entertainment. His unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation has undoubtedly shaped the media industry as we know it today.”

Dokpesi, DAAR Investment and Holdings Ltd, were arraigned on seven counts bordering on procurement fraud and breach of public trust. He was alleged to have received N2.1 billion from the Office of a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), between October 2014 and March 2015 for services not rendered.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had called 13 witnesses in the course of the trial. On November 21, 2018, Justice John Tsoho, had struck out Dokpesi’s no-case submission and ordered him to open his defence.

But he approached the Court of Appeal seeking to upturn the decision of the lower court.

Delivering judgment in the appeal on Thursday, Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu of the Appellate Court, held that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against the appellants.