AIT Founder’s Estate Frozen Amid Reports of Fraudulent Deals

The family of the late media mogul High Chief Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi has moved to block any sale or transfer of his assets, announcing that the entire estate is under probate and warning the public to shun purported transactions offered by persons claiming authority to dispose of the late broadcaster’s properties.

In a public notice described as a “Public Notice / Caveat,” the Dokpesi family said the estate — which includes ownership interests in DAAR Investment & Holding Company Ltd., DAAR Communications PLC (owners of AIT and RayPower) and other corporate and private assets — has been frozen for sale, transfer, pledge or loan with effect from 29 May 2023, the date of Chief Dokpesi’s passing. The family said the freeze will remain until the lawful completion of probate.

The statement said the family had received “troubling reports of people pretending to have authority and offering estate assets for sale,” and cautioned that “any person, institution, or organization that has attempted, or may attempt, to purchase, acquire, transfer, or otherwise deal with any of these assets after 29 May 2023 does so entirely at their own risk and without recourse to the estate or the family.”

The announcement follows media reports and internal complaints that some buildings, lands and local stations associated with DAAR Communications have been sold or shut down amid apparent governance tensions at the company. Insiders and employees reported anxiety over the fate of certain properties, including references to sales affecting local stations such as the Asokoro outlet.

Family representatives told journalists they have held “extensive consultations” with legal counsel to protect the estate and intention to challenge any unlawful disposals in court. The notice was issued as a formal caveat to prevent further dealings with the estate until the probate process is concluded.

Chief Raymond Dokpesi, a pioneer of private broadcasting in Nigeria and the founder of DAAR Communications, died on 29 May 2023 at the age of 71. He built AIT and RayPower into some of the country’s most recognizable private media brands. His death and subsequent burial were widely reported in 2023.

Legal observers said the family’s public caveat is a standard mechanism to notify would-be buyers and third parties that the assets are subject to court supervision pending probate. Transactions concluded while an estate is under probate are often legally vulnerable, and prospective purchasers who proceed without confirmation risk losing their investment or facing protracted litigation. (Context: probate law ordinarily requires court validation of wills and appointment of executors or administrators before final distribution of assets.)

For shareholders, staff and creditors of DAAR Communications PLC, the development raises immediate governance and operational questions. Company insiders told reporters the family’s move is aimed at safeguarding shareholder value and preventing any fraudulent attempts to divest estate assets while the company’s leadership structure and stakeholdings remain unsettled.

The Dokpesi family closed the notice with an appeal to Nigerians and the international community: the legacy of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi “is not up for grabs.” They urged institutions and private individuals to verify any claim of authority over the estate with the probate court or through the family’s legal representatives before engaging in transactions. The family also warned that unauthorized dealings will be vigorously challenged.

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