Mary Okpalaume

The management of Richards Continental Hotels in Sapele, Delta State has refuted the story published online by a print media claiming that a popular medical practitioner, Dr. Afoke Akporaivi who died Tuesday night of August 11 was actually murdered inside the premises of the hotel describing the publication a wicked, blatant lie, malicious and calculated attempt to tarnish the good image of the hotel.

Richards Continental Hotels

In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Randy Okotie, the hotel management maintained that the late Dr. Akporaivi was one of its esteemed customers who came in to have some drinks with his friends and left afterwards claiming that the doctor died in his own hospital.

It asked the media house to carry out substantive investigation to ascertain the real cause of death and the right place where the doctor died rather that floating a false reportage.

Excerpts from the statement reads: “The late doctor just like every other esteemed customer of ours came with his friends to have a drink on Tuesday, August 11, 2015. They thereafter left together when they were through. Whatever happened after they left the hotel can better be explained by his close friends who were with him that day.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we make bold to say that no fight took place at the premises of Richards Continental Hotels Sapele. We also hereby state categorically that nobody died or was murdered within the premises of Richards Continental Hotels, Sapele on the said day.”

The management therefore called on members of the public to disregard the post adding that the hotel has built a good reputation and carved a niche for itself in the entertainment and hospitality industry.

It would be recalled that the deceased doctor who was the owner and medical director of Salvation Clinic in Sapele allegedly died from high blood pressure after a heated argument with his girlfriend and her boyfriend.