Page 36 The daughter-in-law of Atiku Abubakar, as well as his grandchildren, have tested negative to the Covid-19.
They are, however, on self-isolation at their home, located at Taslee Palm City Estate, Uruguay Street, Maitama, Abuja.
Atiku’s son, Mohammed, who is currently being quarantined at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, tested positive for the virus, on Sunday.
Mohammed is married to Badriyya, the daughter of a former Governor of Bauchi State, Ahmed Muazu, who is also a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Speaking on Monday, Zakari Aliyu, who is the Vice Chairman of the estate, said that there is no need to panic, as even the immediate family of the patient have all tested negative.
Aliyu said: “The man was taken away by the NCDC around 1am. He tested positive, but his wife and children all tested negative. However, they are all on self-isolation for the 14-day window and I commend the wife for cooperating with us. There is no cause for panic.
“If his immediate family has tested negative, then it is unlikely that anyone else in the estate has it.”
There have been reports on Twitter that Atiku’s son went to a Club, and also attended the Jumaat prayers, where he could have possibly infected others.
However, Aliyu stated that Atiku had three sons in the estate, and so it was easy for anyone to make a mistake.
“The truth is that Atiku has three sons in our estate. Also, our estate is big and the houses are well spaced. It is possible that there is some malice as regards the news being spread on social media.
“Also, it is not true that the estate reported the man. We had no hand in it. The CDC came to convey him to the isolation centre”, Aliyu said.
Mohammed Atiku returned to Nigeria on March 17, via Switzerland, from some business engagements in France and Switzerland.
According to a statement by Atiku’s Spokesman, Paul Ibe, he attended a private meeting of six (6) persons on the same day in Lagos, stayed in his private house for the night, and took an Aero 5:20pm flight to Abuja, on the 18th.
He did not travel with his family or any other person, but travelled alone by Emirates Airline.
The statement reads: “The case wore face mask as a precautionary measure since his arrival in Nigeria.
“The case did not show symptoms of infection and voluntarily placed a call to NCDC on arrival in Abuja late on the 18th to inform them he had returned from COVID-19 prone country and desired to be tested.
“On the 19th, NCDC took his blood sample which result came positive on the 20th. He subsequently went into self isolation to protect his family within his own house.
“Meantime his son has since tested negative while his wife’s result is being awaited. The two persons are currently in self isolation.
“We urge members of the public to disregard the perfidious information that the case accessed open locations. He was not at Play Lounge nor any other club in Abuja as being mischievously bandied about.
“The case neither attended the Friday Jumu’a prayers nor any social gathering until his evacuation to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital on the 20th where he is being treated and managed.
“We thank Nigerians for their prayers and support through this difficult time. Once again, it needs to be restated that the risk and danger of #COVID19 is real. Ensure you follow the World Health Organization and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, guidelines on how to stay safe.”
