Gombe Hotelier React of the Arbitrary, Overzealous Acts of the Task Force Committee

February 18, 2024 Mustapha Salisu

From Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe

The Management of Fina lodge has expressed shock and disbelief over the statement credited to the chairman of Gombe State Task Force Committee on the closure of Gala Houses and joints which says the hotel engages in illegal activities.

In a joint statement signed by Nuhu Philip Maiguwa, Gankino Philip Maiguwa, the Management of Fina lodge described the statement as false, spurious lies and most untrue.

The management posited that the Lodge is neither a Gala Hall, dance house or brothel but a reputable Guest House, managed and operated by a team of proficient & law-abiding hospitality staff, who are cognizant of the regulatory ordinances & its modus operandi thereof, adding that FINA Lodge is a registered Business, having the requisite permits and Governmental approvals to operate and function in the hospitality business and has been paying all its taxes to the government, and submits daily reports to the CID, Immigration, and DSS, while ensuring prompt payment of revenue to the Revenue Board.

According to the release, the Management per its cherished policy, prohibited the sale of any alcohol, beer, denatured spirits, injurious spirits, or intoxicating liquor and it has no bar or restaurant, were also kept a daily register of all the female lodgers (containing their names, addresses, phone numbers & ages) to ensure that no underage girl entered or was smuggled into the premises.

However, despite the Management’s due diligence and uninhibited cooperation with the authorities, on Wednesday the 14th of February 2024, the men, and officers of the Task Force Committee, without any notice came with bulldozers and caterpillars and demolished FINA Lodge from its roof to its foundation.

Saying that in an irascible display of nonchalance for the hard-earned property of the citizenry in these times of hardship, the task force after demolishing FINA Lodge did not leave any security in place to ward off looters, with same leading to the invasion of the demolished premises (with the task force being in the actual and constructive notice of same) by over 1000 scavengers and thieves, went on to steal our property including televisions, electrical appliances, beds, mattresses, pillows, wardrobes, curtains, refrigerators, and air-conditioned.

Added that the scavengers removed and looted glass windows, doors roofs and in its entirety all of FINA Lodge’s properties. The men and officers of the task force further turned a blind eye to the miscreants invading a storey building and broke down the place, removing windows, doors, and part of the roof, stealing all the electrical appliances, bathroom fixtures. also broke a store where we had kept over 200 bags of grains and beans cultivated by the family and carted them away.

Adding that the Management are always kept a register of Guests received & cooperatively partnered with the men and officers of the Police Command and DSS, availing them of all their Guest registers and uninhibited access to FINA Lodge, whenever they so desired.

Explained that the Management per its cherished policy, prohibited the sale of any alcohol, beer, denatured spirits, injurious spirits, or intoxicating liquor and it has no bar or restaurant, were also kept a daily register of all the female lodgers (containing their names, addresses, phone numbers & ages) to ensure that no underage girl entered or was smuggled into the premises.

The management described the act as an irascible display of nonchalance for the hard-earned property of the citizenry in these times of hardship, the task force after demolishing FINA Lodge did not leave any security in place to ward off looters, with same leading to the invasion of the demolished premises (with the task force being in the actual and constructive notice of same) by over 1000 scavengers and thieves, went on to steal our property including televisions, electrical appliances, beds, mattresses, pillows, wardrobes, curtains, refrigerators, and air-conditioned.

Also broke a store where we had kept over 200 bags of grains and beans cultivated by the family and carted them away.

While citing Executive Order No. 006 establishing the Task Force, which provides written notice and an opportunity to defend any complaint which must be obliged, the management said the acts of the Task Force in neither notifying them of any complaint nor allowing them to react but proceeding arbitrarily to destroying the lodge is ultra vires the powers of the Committee and a clear violation of right to fair hearing.

While commending Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya’s moral sanitization campaign, they vehemently but respectfully requested the halting of further activities against FINA Lodge until its men and officers are well guided on due processes.

And considering the heavy loss of property by the lodge, they correspondingly requested relocation and compensation for the arbitrary, bizarre, and unwarranted demolition of FINA Lodge.