The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reacted to the viral video of a businesswoman expressing her frustrations after her restaurant was sealed by AMAC.
The woman, while lamenting, claimed AMAC has been frustrating her business and recently sealed a branch of her restaurant despite the fact that she had the document they demanded in another branch of her restaurant (read here).
She said they demanded the food handlers test from her staff but it was in the other branch and she was in a meeting. She explained to the officials that she needed time to leave the meeting and bring the documents they required but they allegedly refused and sealed the restaurant with customers inside.
Responding, FCTA said the woman, identified as Layla Othman, flouted a court order. They added that the store was sealed after the management of the restaurant failed to prove that their staff had conducted the food handlers test as required by law.
The FCTA wrote in the statement: “REPORT ON THE VIRAL VIDEO ON THE SEALING UP OF L&N RESTAURANT
“One Layla Othman had in a viral video accused FCTA & @AmacLg officials of illegally sealing up her L&N restaurant in Abuja. She had alleged that the officials locked her customers inside one of her outlets in Gwarinpa.
“The FCT Administration stepped in to investigate and resolve the matter.
“Findings revealed that the restaurant was sealed by court officials after the owner flouted a court order.
“According to Mr. Obinatu Remigius, head of environmental and occupational health division of the FCTA, the action followed the failure of the management of the restaurant to prove that their staff have conducted the food handlers test as required by law.
“He said following a September 4 court summons, the business operators were directed to appear before an Abuja magistrate’s court after being accused of acting contrary to the food stuff and regulated premises bye-law.
“The summons followed an earlier letter from FCTA health division, notifying the restaurant of the provision of the law which stipulates that all food handlers in the establishment should be screened before commencement and subsequently every six months.
“He explained that the court was forced to seal the restaurant after the staff ignored the health officials. The people that went for the sealing were court officials, noting that AMAC & FCTA public health staff were there only to observe & provide information if required.
“He further explained that the N250,000 fine was imposed by the court for the violations, adding that the money is to be paid to the court and not FCTA or AMAC.
“The CEO of the restaurant has, in another video, apologised to FCTA, AMAC & the general public over her earlier video in which she accused the officials of illegally sealing up her restaurant. She said it was one of her staff who received the court summons & failed to inform her.”
Below is the full statement released by the FCTA.
