SaharaReporters had reported that the State Governor-Elect, Peter Mbah and the state Commissioner of Police with host of supporters scampered in various directions on Thursday to safety following a loud bang in the hall.
Barely 24 hours after a loud bang was overheard at the hall of Bon Platinum Hotel where the Independent National Electoral Commission issued Certificates of Return to the newly elected political officers that would take over from the outgoing administration, the Enugu State government on Friday sealed the hall.
SaharaReporters had reported that the State Governor-Elect, Peter Mbah and the state Commissioner of Police with host of supporters scampered in various directions on Thursday to safety following a loud bang in the hall.
Mbah, his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, 23 members-elect of the Enugu State House of Assembly and hundreds of supporters and security chiefs had gathered in the hall of Bon Platinum Hotel, Enugu where the presentation took place.
Halfway through the presentation, there was a loud bang in the hall which sent the people scampering out of the hall, causing a stampede and tension.
Sources who witnessed the incident told SaharaReporters that after an interlude of about 30 minutes, the exercise resumed but many stayed outside for fear that the building might collapse.
"I myself didn't go back to the hall. The bang was much that everyone thought that the building would not stand for another next minute. I haven't witnessed such a thing in my entire life. We thank God that the worst didn't eventually happen," an eyewitness said.
The unusual interruption turned what could have been a joyous moment into anxiety on an occasion witnessed by prominent personalities including the outgoing deputy governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, among other dignitaries.
Sequel to the development, which suggested structural defect of the double decker hall the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) sealed the facility for thorough investigation.
The ECTDA officials, who conducted an inspection on the facility on Friday, said it discovered the building had no approval plan, together with another upcoming structure in the hotel.
Disclosing reason for its decision on the building, Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Dr Josef Onoh said that management of the hotel was impatient with the agency to conclude its investigation of the facility and was bent on holding another function on the distressed hall by Saturday without resolving the problem with the building.
"The proprietor of the hotel is not ready to exercise patience for the Nigeria Society of Engineers to come for their own inspection, but she is asking us to allow her host a wedding there tomorrow and I wonder how much she collected for the event that the venue cannot be relocated. So we have sealed the hall.”