Tragedy struck yesterday when an Igbo businessman based in the neighbouring country of Ghana slumped and died at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while on his way back to his base.

The deceased has been identified by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as Mr. Akunne Osei. FAAN in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati, however dismissed speculations that Mr. Osei died of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Clarifying issues, Dati said in a statement said: “FAAN wishes to inform the public that a Nigerian passenger, residing in Accra, who arrived Lagos for business transactions aboard an Arik Air flight on Friday, August 8, 2014, has died at the Murtala Mohammad Airport, Ikeja, on his way back to Accra.

“The passenger, Osei, took ill on Saturday, August 9 and started stooling. When the situation got worse, he called his doctor in Accra, who instructed him to return to Ghana immediately for further treatment.

“During boarding formalities for his return trip to Accra at the international terminal of MMA, Osei, who had obviously become weak at this time, was subjected to Ebola Virus test by port health officials, the result of which was negative. No further attention was paid to him after his Ebola Virus result read negative but the passenger later slumped and died around the port health office.”