The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), has sealed the hall of Bon Platinum hotel where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), issued Certificates of Return to the Enugu state Governor-elect, Peter Mbah; his Deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai and 17 House of Assembly members-elect in the state.

This was because of an alleged structural defect of the double decker hall, which experienced a bang during the issuance of the certificates to the election winners on Thursday.

The bang which reportedly shook the building caused pandemonium and made the recipients, the Commissioner of Police, the INEC staff and the invitees and their guests to scamper for safety.

Although certificates issuance was later completed in the same hall, not everyone was allowed back into the hall.

Consequently, the ECTDA on Friday went for an inspection on the facility and said it discovered the building had no approved building plan, together with an upcoming structure in the hotel.

Speaking on the development Chairman of ECTDA, Dr. Josef Onoh, said the management of the hotel was impatient with the agency to conclude it’s investigation of the facility and was bent on holding another function on the distressed hall by Saturday without resolving the problem.

Onoh said: “The hall doesn’t have an approval, but the hotel has and there was a structural bang on the hall yesterday (Thursday), when INEC was issuing Certificates of Return which made everybody to scatter because they thought the building was going to collapse.

“So we went there today for inspection and we are now sealing the place, including another building being developed at the back. 

“The proprietor of the hotel is not ready to exercise patience for the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) to come for their own inspection, but 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.”