Following widespread criticism, Kaduna State government has defended the demolition of Asher lounge, a building said to have been the proposed venue of a botched sex party in the state.
Director-General of the Kaduna State Urban Development and Planning Authority (KASUPDA), Ismail Umar-Dikko who spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, January 5 said the building violated COVID-19 protocols, contradicting its own initial claim that the hotel was demolished for being the proposed venue of a sex party.
Read Also: Kaduna Govt Demolishes Asher Hotel, Proposed Venue For Sex Party (Photos)
He added that the building located in Sabon Tasha area of Chikun Local Government had no valid title or development permit.
Dikko maintained that the demolition of the building was in line with the laws and regulations of the state on any property that was in violation of its provisions.
The DG said;
Since this enforcement action, much of the commentary on the matter has centred on the inaccurate statement from KASUPDA’s Twitter account. While regretting the inaccuracy of the handler of our social media account, there is no reservation about the steps taken pursuant to enforce the laws and regulations of Kaduna State on a property that was in violation of its provisions.
Since 26th March 2020, the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Partial Lockdown Order, 2020 have been in force in Kaduna State. Although some of the regulations were significantly relaxed in June 2020, they were tightened again in December 2020 in response to a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
He added;
Indications that an activity in violation of the Covid regulations was planned to be held in Asher Lounge drew attention to the property and made it necessary to examine the status of the building. Checks of government records showed that the building housing Asher Lounge has neither a valid title nor development permit. Once due diligence revealed the illegal status of the building, there was need for enforcement action without the notification requirements that the law compels for holders of valid title and development permits.
The illegal status of the building became a very separate matter from the trigger event: the third-party elements who had planned and advertised an unlawful gathering on those premises.
Read Also: Police Arrest Organisers Of ‘Kaduna Sex Party’
The KASUPDA boss insisted that those who have chosen to remain in violation and have shunned opportunities to regularise their status cannot argue from sentiment when enforcement actions were taken.
Dikko’s stance comes after the owner of the building, Mrs Aisha Yakubu denied claims that the building was the venue for the botched sex party.
She also threatened to seek legal action over the action of the government.
