Child abuse: Ekiti threatens hoteliers with license revocation

From Victor Akinkuolie,  Ado-Ekiti
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Ekiti State Government has threatened to withdraw the license of owners of hotels where child abuse takes place in the state henceforth and would also be prosecuted.

The Attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda said the  government would not hesitate to revoke the licenses of any hotel found culpable.

The commissioner spoke on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting with the leadership of the Hoteliers Association in Ekiti State and charged hotel owners to collaborate with the government to stop the menace of child sexual abuse reportedly happening in some hotels and guest houses in the state.

Fapohunda, who thanked them for contributing to the state’s socio economic development through their investments, however, expressed displeasure on how children were being sexually abused over the years in some hotels in the state.

He said, “Some parents have complained to us on the issue and we do not want to be seen as being at loggerheads with the hoteliers. Nevertheless, we need to agree, on how to curb sexual exploitation of our under-age girls.”

The commissioner urged the hoteliers to place the Age Requirement Policy in a conspicuous place in the reception area of their hotels, saying “Section 219 of the Criminal Code, CAP C16 of the Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, stated that sexual exploitation of young girls in any premises, including hotels is a criminal offence”.

While saying any hotel found negligent would be prosecuted, the AG said “civil and criminal proceedings would be taken against the hotels and hotel owners, where young girls are sexually abused”.

According to him, measures that the Ministry of Justice would take against any hotel found wanting included “Naming and Shaming of hotels and hotels owners whose premises are used for sexual abuse and exploitation of young girls and instituting civil proceedings on behalf of a child victim to seek compensation for the victims.

“The measures herein stated are without prejudice to the power of the Government of Ekiti State to revoke the license of offenders,” Fapohunda stated.

Chairman of the hoteliers, Chief Samuel Korede, assured that decisive steps would be taken to curb the ugly menace of sexual exploitation of under-age girls in the hotels, especially the short-time lodgers.

One of the hoteliers, Mr Omoniyi Ola, lamented the ugly trend, saying, “We are not happy with the news. We will do something about the issue”.