Police hunt for Cubans Club’s owner, parade 172 for violating COVID-19 protocol
By Rasaq Adebayo
Lagos State Police Command has ordered the arrest of the owner of Cubana nightclub for allegedly violating 12 midnights to 4.am curfew imposed on the metropolis by the state government.
The command’s boss also said it would soon arraign 172 persons who were arrested by operatives of IGP monitoring led by its commander, CSP Ngozi Braide on Saturday at Cubana night club.
Briefing newsmen at the command headquarters, Ikeja, on the activities of the command in the last one month, the state police boss, Hakeem Odumosu, on Monday said in spite of efforts of the state government to encourage youths who are leaders of tomorrow to comply with COVID-19 protocols, a good number of them still find it difficult to comply.
Odumosu, who insisted that self-compliance to the COVID-19 regulations matters, disclosed that operatives of the command raided some nightclubs in the early hours of Saturday.
He said the nightclub breached the entire Covid-19 protocols and did not adhere to the social distancing rule and the use of nose mask.
“We had 172 people inside one club breaching the social distancing rule and there is a viral video to that effect circulating on the internet.
“They have been arrested for violating the law of the state and the law will take its course. They will be charged to court and whatever decision the court takes is what we will comply.
“The owner of the club was not there he had disappeared when we got there. So also when we arrested fun seekers in Victoria Club, Ajose Adeogun, the owner was no where to be found but when we locked his club and arrested some of his staff, he came out from where he was hiding and was charged to court. It also repeated itself at Club 38 in Surulere, the owner also came out when we shut down the club and he has been charged to court.
“So, definitely the owner of Cubana would surely surface because we have shut down his club and arrested some of his staff as well.
“Cubana Club has been raided in the past but it was the one at GRA, Ikeja and it has been sealed off by the Lagos State Safety Commission. It is only clubbing that is totally ban but all other social engagement must get the approval or the Lagos State Safety Commission before engaging.
“Two weeks ago, I shutdown a wedding reception in Ikeja for violating the stipulated amount of people that was approved by the Lagos State Safety Commission for the wedding. They had the certificate, which they got from the commission quite all right, but it only approved 100 people for outdoor wedding. After doing head count, they were up to 300 people indoor.
“Clubs are permitted to open as long as they don’t engage in night clubbing because this activity has been totally banned. Others must get approval from the safety Commission before they can be allowed to engage in social activities like selling foodstuffs and drinks. Even with this they must ensure that social distancing, facemask wearing is adhered to as well as keeping in line with the curfew time, which is between 12 midnight and 4.am.
Once this protocols are observed they would have no problem with the law,” he added.
Detectives attached to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Team led by its commander, Ngozi Braide, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) at the wee hours of Saturday, busted the gathering following a tip-off on large gathering in the club house.
Although hotels, eateries, churches and some beaches have since resumed businesses following the ease of the lockdown, clubhouses have remained closed.
To minimise losses, the government earlier permitted clubhouses with open bars and restaurants like Cubana to resume such services with strict observance of all COVID-19 protocols.
