Hisbah seals popular hotel for allegedly lodging underage girls

The New Palace Hotel has been sealed with immediate effect by the Hisbah Board of Katsina State, in response to allegations of moral corruption involving underage females.

The closure was confirmed by Dr. Aminu Usman, also known as Abu Ammar, the Commander General of Hisbah in the state, to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina.

Usman revealed that the hotel breached an earlier agreement established with hoteliers throughout the state.

“The hotel violated the board’s regulations by allowing underage girls to stay on the premises,” he stated.

During a recent inspection, two underage girls were found sharing a room, which is a direct violation of Hisbah laws, he said.

According to him, the incident marks the second time New Palace Hotel has been implicated in such an offence, despite previous warnings and commitments from the hotel management to prevent recurrence.

Usman emphasized that an agreement had been reached during a collaborative meeting with hotel managers statewide, mandating that no hotel should accommodate underage children.

“Due to the hotel’s failure to adhere to our regulations and meet the stipulated conditions, we have decided to shut it down immediately,” he announced.

“We are dedicated to enforcing reforms and promoting discipline in line with the state’s religious and cultural values to ensure lasting peace,” Usman added.