Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, who disclosed Kashamu’s death via his Twitter handle, wrote: “I have just lost my good friend of forever to #COVID19. Until his death, Sen. Buruji Kashamu and I were inseparable. He died today at First Cardiology Consultants, in Lagos. May his gentle soul rest in peace. I pray his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear this heavy loss.”
Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo
Senator Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo, Popularly known as Pepperito, also died of coronavirus at same hospital where Kyari died; First Cardiology Consultants, Ikoyi, Lagos. Until his death, he was Senator under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Lagos East at the Lagos State House of Assembly for 16 years. He died on June 15, 2020, at the age of 64.
Suleiman Adamu
On April 30, a member of the Nasarawa State house of assembly, Suleiman Adamu, died after a brief illness. However, the cause of his death was confirmed as COVID-19 few days after his demise, as sample taken from him returned positive for virus.
Confirming his death, the Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, stated that senator Adamu died from covid-19 complications.
“The deceased was admitted at federal medical centre (FMC) keffi. He had symptoms of coronavirus, his sample was taken, but before it was out, he died and was buried. His result came out positive on saturday,” the governor added.
Tunde Buraimoh
Tunde Buraimoh, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Kosofe Constituency II, was also a Covid-19 casualty. Buraimoh died on July 10, 20.
Until his death, he was the Chairman House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, as well as a one-time chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Sources close to him said he might have contracted the virus from the late senator Osinowo, as he was said to be one of his confidants. The development, it was learnt, created fears and panic in the 40-member house.
Prof. Femi Odekunle
Prof. Femi Odekunle, an academic and member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), is another notable Nigerian that died of COVID-19.
Odekunle, 77, Nigeria’s first Professor of Criminology, died at the COVID-19 Isolation Center in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on December 29, 2020 around 6:30 pm.
Until his death, Odekunle lectured at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, as well as other universities.
He was the first Director of the United Nations African Institute for Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders, and was chief project consultant on the Corruption Money Laundering Nexus in West Africa Survey for ECOWAS inter-governmental action task force against money laundering and terrorism financing in West Africa in 2009.
Odekunle is a writer of several research publications and a recipient of numerous awards.
Major Gen. Johnson Olubunmi Irefin
The latest casualty, Major General Johnson Olubunmi Irefin, former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Port Harcourt, died on December 10, 2020 following complications from COVID-19.
Army Spokesman, Brigadier-General Sagir Musa, who confirmed General Irefin’s death in a statement, disclosed that Irefin complained of discomfort from Day One of the Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja, which began on December 7, 2020.
According to Sagir, the General later complained of fever, headache and mild cough, symptoms usually associated with COVID-19, adding that further medical examination at Defence Medical Centre confirmed that he had the virus.
“He was later taken to Defence Medical Centre same day at about 21:25 hours having complained of fever, headache and mild cough.
“Medical history revealed that he was treated for malaria with parenteral artemether a week ago at 6 Division Medical Services and Hospital Port Harcourt where he was the GOC. He had fever but oxygen saturation was normal at 99%.Other vital signs were essentially stable on presentation.
“A working diagnosis of drug resistant malaria to rule out lobar pneumonia and COVID 19 infection was made. He was also placed on cefriaxone and COVID 19 test was requested.
“Consequently, in the morning of 8 December 2020, the fever and cough have subsided and he was eating well. On the same day (8 December 2020), he was discharged after his sample for COVID 19 test had been taken and was requested to self isolate pending the outcome of the test.
“On 9 December 2020, the result of the COVID 19 test conducted on him was positive. As a result, he was taken to 063 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Abuja where his SpO saturation was noted to be well reduced to between 55 – 60%. He was then immediately taken to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja by the Commander 063 NAF Hospital for further management.
“At the hospital, he was immediately admitted and placed on high flow oxygen. An initial improvement of 80 – 82% oxygen saturation was noticed. He was then commenced on Anti viral agent remdesivir based on the COVID 19 test result. Other treatment included the usual COVID 19 treatment cocktail.
Leave a comment