By Tanimu Muhammad
Abuja
An FCT Mobile Court has ordered for the seal up of Missouri hotel, located in Maitama District of Abuja, for allegedly operating a nightclub within curfew hours, in contravention of the COVID-19 regulation, 2020.
In particular, the court presided over by Magistrate Idayat Akanni, which sat yesterday at the Eagles Square, ordered that the hotel be sealed up for the period of one week.
The court also tried and sentenced eleven defaulters to engage in three-day community service, with the payment of fine of N5,000 each.
Our correspondent gathered 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, which is from 10pm to 6am within the FCT.
However, five other persons found in the premises were arrested for partaking in the social gathering, which according to the court constituted night club activities.
Speaking with newsmen, the prosecutor, Udeme Umanah , who is also Chief State Counsel to the FCT, explained that “eleven defaulters arraigned before the mobile court were tried and found guilty , and sentenced accordingly.
Chairman of FCT Ministerial TaskForce on COVID -19, Ikharo Attah, who led his team to enforce the seal up order, said the arrests on Sunday, and trial of defaulters on Monday respectively, followed the receipt of complaints from the residents of the area.
Attah said gallant security personnel visited the hotel and discovered that activities in contravention of COVID-19 guidelines were on and arrested them.
“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.”