The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Mobile Court, on Monday ordered the seal up of Missouri hotel, located in Maitama District of Abuja, for allegedly operating a nightclub within COVID -19 curfew hours.
The court which was presided over by Magistrate Idayat Akanni, ordered that the hotel be sealed up for the period of one week for contravening COVID-19 regulations.
The court also tried and sentenced 11 defaulters to engage in a three-day community service with the payment of fine of N5,000 each.
NAN also reports that six of the defaulters found guilty are staff of the hotel, who were apprehended by the COVID-19 enforcement team for opening up their business within the curfew hours, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. within the FCT.
Equally, other five persons were those found in the premises convicted for partaking in the social gathering, which according to the court constituted night club activities.
Addressing newsmen, the prosecutor, Udeme Umanah, who is also the Chief State Counsel to the FCT, explained that the 11 defaulters were arraigned before the mobile court, found guilty and sentenced accordingly.
Umanah also explained that the defaulters opened up the hotel and engaged in night club activities in the area.
On his part, the Chairman, FCT Ministerial Task Force on COVID -19, Mr Ikharo Attah, who led his team to enforce the seal up order, said the arrests and trial of the defaulters followed the receipt of complaints from the residents of the area.
Attah said that gallant security personnel visited the hotel and discovered that activities there were in contravention of COVID-19 guidelines.
According to him, the hotel has been sealed up pending when the court decides otherwise.
” The action is to serve as a deterrent to others, who run nightclubs, bars and restaurants, to ensure that they actually obey the rules. And if we found anybody like this, the place will be seal up.
“Those who are running nightclubs and hotels should please desist from violating the COVID-19 guidelines.
” Only hotels are allowed to open for business, while their bars and nightclubs should not be opened, as anyone who contravenes should face the music,” Attah said.