THE FCT minister, Mohammad Bello, said Caramelo night club was demolished because the property was being used for purposes other than that for which it was originally approved.

The minister said this during a press conference after Thursday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo.

According to him, acquiring a land or property either by lease, hire or sale, especially in Abuja, is governed by rules and regulation.

“You do not lease or even sublease out a property meant for a hospital to be converted into a night club, without getting a right approval. Even if you get land, the purpose is very clear.  Any transaction you do on land, whether it is a lease, hire, or sale, is governed by rules and regulation.”

He said, that the decision reached on the demolition of the night club was a last resort and that by demolishing the building, the property now belongs to the government.

“You can check the COO (Certificate of Occupancy) for the regulation if there are flagrant abuses, and all effort to correct that abuse is not done, it reverses back to the government,” Mohammed said.

The minister said that contrary to what the general public might want to believe, his administration is not usually in a haste to demolish the property and that demolition is usually the last resort.

“For every demolition made, may be a hundred was saved,” he said, adding, however, that people should always follow the rules in all that they do especially with regards to landed property in the Federal Capital Territory.

A few weeks back, officials of the FCT Administration conducted a raid at Caramelo night club and arrested about 100 ladies who were accused of prostitution. The development prompted wide condemnation from gender-advocacy groups and human rights activists, especially as no male offender was arrested in the raid.

The facility was demolished in the morning of Monday, May 13, and witnesses said the FCTA officials that carried out the demolition did not allow workers in the nightclub to evacuate any property, thus, equipment, furniture and drinks belonging to the club all perished.