By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu, Awka.
The Anambra State Government has sealed the Wintess Garden Hotel Annexe, Ifite Awka, over a viral pool sex video that was linked to the facility.
The Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr Donatus Onyenji, who signed the order, dated Sept. 8, said that the action was to enable the government and security agencies to conduct hitch-free investigations into the matter.
Onyenji also said that the action was in line with the provisions of the Anambra State Tourism and Hospitality Law 2016.
He said that government’s action was in spite of the ministry, already having before it an application by the hotel for an operational permit, dated Aug. 31.
“However, while the process is ongoing, our attention has been drawn to the social media video of live sex and pornographic content (sex party) conducted on Sept. 3 at an open place in your hotel/facility.
“This and other such indecent operations and unholy acts of public show of indecency must not be allowed in any hotel in Anambra.
“The Government of Anambra, hereby, directs the management of the hotel to shut down operations, pending further investigations and review of its application,” Onyenji said.
Reacting to the development, Mr Ndibe Ikeh, the General Manager of Witness Group, owners of the hotel, expressed regrets over the incident.
Ikeh said that the incident did not represent the corporate values and operational principles of the company.
He thanked the government for wading into the scandal by taking decisive steps to investigate and unravel the perpetrators as well as their motives.
Ikeh, who did not rule out the possibility of blackmail by detractors, called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police to conduct a thorough investigation, with the aim of establishing the role of the hotel in the incident.
“Wintess Garden Hotel is a responsible organisation with good moral values; our services are open to the public.
“As a management, we condemn the act and call for thorough investigation into the matter.
“We apologise for this embarrassment and thank the state government for its kind intervention,” he said.
He stressed that the investigation should be carried out to a logical conclusion.
