Metro
Police Clear Avista Beach Resort of Complicity in Fun Seeker’s Death
Nigeria’s leading hospitality destination, Avista Beach Resort in Lekki, Lagos has been cleared of all rumours of breaches, complicity or wrong doing in the unfortunate circumstances leading to the death of a fun seeker.
A grossly misinformed phone recorded video posted on social media a few days after Valentine’s Day had alleged that the fun seeker who was reported missing had been kidnapped and his body parts mutilated by ritualists.
Preliminary police investigation has however, revealed that contrary to claims made in the hurried video that the deceased had lodged at the resort, himself and 14 other youthful friends had instead lodged in another hotel close by and only spent about 90 minutes at the resort from 7.30pm to 9.00 pm.
Upon receiving a call the next day from Barracuda Beach, which is about 6 kilometres away from Avista Beach Resort, the police drove down to recover the body and confirmed he had drowned and his body parts were untouched and intact. Apparently, the cold ocean waves had washed his body ashore so far away from the resort.
It is commendable to note that the Lagos State Safety Commission, upon hearing news of the mishap, had immediately swung into action; initially sealed up the resort to investigate the matter, but later re-opened it after facts emerged that all safety measures were adhered to at Avista Beach Resort.
Speaking on behalf of the popular Avista Beach Resort, the manager, Nosa Adun has made further clarifications to the media saying, “If caution had been exercised and the warning signs at the beach front followed by the young man and his friends, the tragedy would have been totally averted. This has never happened before at Avista.
“However, we wish to express our heartfelt condolence to the family and friends of the deceased over the tragic incident that occurred the Saturday after Valentine’s Day at the beach, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time” Adun said.
Below are excerpts from the official media statement made by the management of Avista Beach Resort has been in circulation since its February 22, 2024 release date.
Given the seriousness of the matter, it is very imperative for us to correct some misconception and misrepresentation of facts in the media space. The deceased, accompanied by 14 others, including his girlfriend, arrived for an evening at our resort and they were given access to our resort because they came with hand tags from the hotel next to our resort. They brought their own foods and beverages, which was against our policy, but were eventually allowed to bring in the items after so much pleading.
The deceased and his friends sat at one of our cabanas, decided to proceed further to the beach front despite signages that clearly advised caution due to the absence of lifeguards particularly at night when tidal currents may vary.
At 9.00 pm while they were bound to return to their hotel, they realized that the deceased was not amongst them, they went back to the beach front to search for him but couldn’t find him, and left the resort without seeing him.
The following morning, the family returned with law enforcement officers, alleging that their brother had been kidnapped by Avista. The accusations are unfounded and regrettable. At Avista, we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and security as a leading brand in the hospitality industry.
Currently, the matter is still under investigation by the Nigerian police. The body will undergo a thorough autopsy. While we await the conclusion of the inquiry, we will vigorously pursue legal action against any party engaged in defamatory or malicious publications or behaviour to ensure that justice is served.
Avista Beach Resort aka ‘the coolest beach in Lagos’ was founded in 2020 and designed to compare favourably with some of the most patronized beach resorts in the world as a family vacation destination. “Beyond the sea ambience and experience, our guests enjoy nature, great cuisines and very comfortable accommodation in a very secured environment” its manager, Adun said.
Avista Beach Resort remains the meeting point of Integrity and Hospitality.
The Senate has brought forward the screening of newly appointed Service Chiefs to Wednesday, October 29, reversing its earlier decision to conduct the exercise next week.
The announcement came shortly after Senate President, Godwill Akpabio, read a separate correspondence from President Bola Tinubu, seeking the confirmation of appointment of Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede.
Akpabio said the change was necessary to enable the military chiefs to assume their duties immediately.
President Bola Tinubu had urged the Senate to give expeditious consideration to the confirmation process to ensure continuity and effective coordination of the nation’s security architecture.
Following the new schedule, the Committee of the Whole is expected to conduct the screening exercise during plenary on Wednesday.
A few days ago, Tinubu reshuffled the military hierarchy. Tinubu removed General Christopher Musa, with Oluyede (a former Chief of Army Staff) replacing him as the Chief of Defence Staff.
He, however, retained Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye as the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The rejigging, according to presidential aide Sunday Dare, was due to “the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture”.
“All appointments take immediate effect,” he wrote.
But critics have faulted the rejig of the military hierarchy, with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC “as an opposition political party, our interest remains the stability of our country and our democracy. In the light of developments in our neighbourhood of Chad and the Sahel States, we are gravely concerned”) asking President Tinubu to come out clean on the reason for the move.
“Our position remains, therefore, that the Federal Government owes Nigerians a categorical explanation about what truly happened,” the ADC wrote in a statement by its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi.
Senator Ned Nwoko on Sunday said he feels sorry for men with one wife, insisting that polygamy provides men greater stability and balance.
The lawmaker representing Delta North, who made the comment while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, also addressed recent allegations of domestic violence against him by his actress wife, Regina Daniels.
When asked how he copes with managing four wives—something many men find nearly impossible- Nwoko hesitated for a while before reacting.
“That is a different topic for discussion on another day. Yes, every man should do that. The example I give is this: just imagine telling you to stand on one foot or leg. You know how difficult it is.
“But to stand on two, three, four is much more balanced. That’s just the example I give. So I feel sorry for those who have one wife because it’s difficult to stand on one leg,” he stated.
When reminded that the Holy Bible does not endorse polygamy, Nwoko countered, “The Old Testament does. I am a man of faith. But that’s not what we are here for.”
Asked whether he had any regrets about his marital choices, the senator shook his head.
“No, I don’t have any regret. I will do the same thing again. Of course, that’s the way it should be. You should marry who you want to marry,” he defended stoutly.
On the domestic violence allegations trailing him, Nwoko dismissed them outright, saying, “No, come on. You know I am not a violent person. I respect my wives. I love them and my kids.”
His comments came just hours after Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, his estranged wife, flaunted a newly acquired mansion on social media amid reports of a marital crisis.
In a post on her Instagram page, Daniels shared photos and videos of the property with the caption, “In my house, I am a Queen! I needed a roof over my head, so I got this for me and my family.”
The post followed a viral video from October 18 showing the actress in tears outside her Abuja residence, lamenting alleged abuse.
“In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing, but in my own house, I am a Queen. Not again. I can’t stand the violence, it’s too much,” she said in the footage.
The couple’s six-year marriage, once the subject of public fascination due to their wide age gap, has recently degenerated into a full-blown crisis now playing out before millions of Nigerians on social media.
The Punch
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in the early hours of Sunday, October 26, raided Proxy Night club at 7, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where a drug party was going on, and arrested over 100 suspects.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, while making this known, said the suspects arrested include the owner of the club, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, alias Pretty Mike, who was taken into custody for interrogation.
“Cartons of illicit substances, including Loud and laughing gas, were recovered from suspects at the party and the club’s store.
“The raid followed intelligence about the drug party. NDLEA operatives who were embedded in the party between 11 pm on Saturday, 25th October, however, disrupted the gathering at 3 am on Sunday, 26th October, in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
