POPULAR ABUJA NIGHT CLUB, CARAMELO DEMOLISHED FOR ALLEGED PROMOTION OF PROSTITUTION

The authorities also stated that neighbours had complained about worrisome activities of the club owners and guests, while it is recalled that during earlier raid of the club, there was a fisticuffs between the officials and bouncers of the club.

Penpushing further reports that, during the demolition exercise, the Ministry Officials kept mute, when some of eyewitnesses approached them over the development, which eyewitness started at about 7.00am

A witness said, “we asked them many times, but they did not answer us. They came early and left early”, adding that the conduct of the officials was similar to what transpired when the bar was raided on April 19, when at least 34 women were arrested

The club owner in swift response blamed Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bello Mohammed, for the demolition, saying  it was a vindictive measure that did not consider the country’s flailing economy.

Penpushing also reports that, the club owner, Maxwell Eze said, the demolished club cost N500million to be put in place, lamenting the loss, as he embarked on surveying the destruction, stressing, “they just destroyed N500 million in a struggling economy. This is deliberate sabotage of this country’s economy.”

The club owner pointed out that at least 105 Nigerians were in direct employment at Caramelo, with the lowest paid not getting below the minimum wage, adding, “now, not only the 105 people have been rendered jobless, our suppliers and other indirect labourers will have to find ways to earn a living for themselves and families,”.

Penpushing reports that, Eze, argued that the club was properly registered and paid federal taxes and other levies to at least 15 offices from neighbourhood and professional associations to federal agencies, regretting that, yet the property was destroyed with only a two-day notification.