By Muhammad Tanimu
Abuja
Just two years after hitherto popular and ‘untouchable’ Caramelo strip club was completely demolished in Utako, Cool Leo and Paris Nightclubs in Karu site now face a similar fate.
This is as the two night clubs were, over the weekend, sealed off for violating COVID-19 guidelines, and for arbitrary change of land use from residential to a mix use of commercial and hospitality purposes.
Head, Public Enlightenment, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Taskforce on Enforcement of COVOD-19 Guidelines, Comrade Ikharo Attah disclosed this while speaking to journalists at the Eagle Square during the trial of 29 persons arrested across the FCT for breaking COVID-19 guidelines.
Ikharo vowed that FCTA authorities would stop at nothing to ensure the demolition of the two popular night clubs unless they revert to approved residential land use for the area.
“Two clubs in Karu Site have been asked to close. They operate in residential area, against COVID-19 protocols and disrupt the peace of residents at night.
“They are Paris Club and Cool Lea and they have been sealed off indefinitely.
“Should they refuse to revert, then we will invoke other aspects of FCT master plan and demolish. We will not allow them to continue disturbing the neighbourhood.”
Commenting on the prosecution of the COVID-19 offenders, Ikharo stated: “29 persons were apprehended, brought before the court and subsequently the judge found them guilty and they were given the option of fine, which they all paid.
“We want residents to know that the fundamental thing to do is to obey health protocols, conform with it going forward, and ensure that they live peacefully and happily.
“So all we are doing is to vigorously continue with FCT COVID-19 contravention enforcement directive given by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, our Chairman that we go out and sustain COVID-19 health protocols in the FCT.”
Ikharo however scored his committee high: “But in all, the compliance in Abuja is very high, compared to other places in the country. You will score us very high.”
Presiding over proceedings at the FCT Mobile court, siting at the Eagle Square, Magistrate Idayat Akani of the FCT Judiciary, found the defendants guilty on a one-count charge of violating the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulation, 2021 by not using facemasks in public places.
According to her, the offence was liable to either imprisonment, payment of a fine or community service or both.
While 27 of the accused pleaded guilty after the charge was read to them, paid the fine of N2,000.00 each and were released, two who pleaded not guilty were granted bail in the sum of N10,000 each.