The management of popular entertainment hotspot in Ibadan, Mauve 21 has said that it was never visited by Oyo State’s COVID-19 Task Force as being reported in some media outlets.
In the said report, Mauve 21 which runs a thriving Lounge and Bar was mentioned as one of those found to be flouting the laws made by the Oyo State government banning clubbing activities in the state.
In its reaction as contained in a submission by Mauve 21’s lawyer, Barrister Akeem Aponmade of A.O. Aponmade & Co, which was obtained by the media, the entertainment outfit categorically stated that the task force or their representatives never visited the premises of Mauve 21 at on the said Saturday night.
The lawyer submitted further “We were informed that our client shut down all its business activities since the night of Wednesday 25 March 2020 till date, based on the first order from the Government.
“It may interest you to know that our client sent all its employees, save the security guards and front desk officers, home from that date.
The lawyer continued “we were informed that there was no time any officer of any agency of Oyo State Government entered our client’s premises since the outbreak of COVID-19 to date.
“The story that our client was found in violation of any Government’s order whatsoever is therefore a fiction and a product of someone’s wild imagination and to publish it will be malicious and defamatory. Our client informed us that they have received calls from several people who believed the defamatory publication.
We therefore implore news organisations to demand for proof of our client acting in violation of the orders of Government from OYRTMA before publishing our client’s name as a non-law abiding corporate citizen.“Kindly note that our client’s brand is built upon years of adhering to good corporate governance and fidelity to the law of the land. Our brief is to pursue with legal actions whoever will damage the good name and reputation of our client for no just cause”.