The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), has sealed the hall of Bon Platinum Hotel where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), issued certificates of return to the Enugu state Governor-Elect, Peter Mbah; his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai and 17 elected House of Assembly members-elect in the state.
The Development followed an alleged structural defect of the double decker hall which caused a big bang during the issuance of the certificates of return to the election winners on Thursday.
The bang, which occured half-way during the event, caused pandemonium and made the recipients, the commissioner of police, the INEC staff and numerous others to scamper for safety.
Moments later, the ceremony reconvened and ended amidst apprehensions.
Consequently, the ECTDA on Friday went for an inspection on the facility and said it discovered the building, together with another upcoming structure in the hotel, had no approval.
Disclosing reason for it’s decision on the building, Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Dr. Josef Onoh said that Management of the hotel was impatient with the agency to conclude it’s investigation on the facility and was bent on holding another function on the distressed hall by Saturday without resolving the problem with the building.
Onoh said: “The hall doesn’t have an approval but the hotel has and there was a structural bang on the hall yesterday (Thursday) when INEC was issuing certificates of return which made everybody to scatter because they thought the building was going to collapse.
“So we went there today ( Friday) for inspection and we are now sealing the place, including another building being developed at the back.
“The proprietor of the hotel is not ready to exercise patience for the Nigeria Society of Engineers to come for their own inspection, but is asking us to allow her host a wedding there tomorrow (Saturday) and I wonder how much she collected for the event that the venue cannot be relocated.
“So we have sealed the hall,” he added. (Vanguard)
