Quilox: Lagos club that landed lawmaker in police net

In the whole of Victoria Island, Ozumba Mbadiwe is the busiest street. It links Lagos Island to Victoria Island. But when our correspondent visited the place on Thursday evening, there was an unusual calmness. Number 873, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street is where Quilox, a popular night club is located. At one side of the club is […]

In the whole of Victoria Island, Ozumba Mbadiwe is the busiest street. It links Lagos Island to Victoria Island. But when our correspondent visited the place on Thursday evening, there was an unusual calmness.

Number 873, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street is where Quilox, a popular night club is located. At one side of the club is Zenith Bank and at the other is a fence high enough to cover the content it is meant to protect.

The club, which was known to buzz with activities at all times, is deserted. There were no security men or other people around. A peep into the premises showed that people deserted the place in a hurry. Everything was scattered, everywhere was littered.

There was no one to ask why the place was dirty and disorganised, but the seal at the gate of the premises said it all. The club was locked by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).

To celebrate their 6th anniversary, the club organised a 36-hour party for its customers. Tagged Quilox 6,000 6th Anniversary, the party started from 7pm on December 20 to the morning of 23.

As a way of showing what the party was like, the club’s social media administrator posted on Twitter, “All the celebrities were in Quilox last night… Special performances from Burna Boy, Zlatan, Naira Marley, CDQ, Tiwa Savage, Olamide, D’banj, Peruzzi and many more. Music by DJ Jimmy Jatt. Check out how Burna Boy was spraying $100 notes on King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal.’’

After the party, it was time to leave on Monday morning, but some customers discovered that their vehicles were missing. On enquiry, it was discovered that about three vehicles had been towed to Maroko police station as they were said to have been parked on the road, causing traffic gridlock. When the issue was reported to the club owner, Shina Peller, he sprung to action and went to the police station to bail the vehicles of his customers.

Also, within that same period, LASEPA sealed off the club over noise pollution and traffic congestion.

When the club owner, who is also a member of the House of Representatives for Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa constituency in Oyo State got to the station, he was arrested.

Peller’s press secretary, Mr Kola Popoola, claimed that his boss had gone to bail some customers and their vehicles when he was also arrested and detained. The aide insisted that Peller’s offence was not disclosed to him at the time of his arrest.

To drive home his point, Popoola stated, “Honourable Shina Peller was at the Maroko police station to bail some of Club Quilox’s customers, who allegedly parked on the road. Prior to the kick-off of the 36-hour non-stop show, which usually holds every year at Quilox, Peller had informed concerned Lagos traffic authorities in order to avoid unnecessary gridlock. On getting to the station, the police started harassing him and even went as far as seizing all his phones for no reason.

“The continuous harassment and unjust detention of a member of the House of Representatives by the police calls for urgent attention of the media and the commissioner of police.”

Truly, the attention of all appropriate authorities was drawn to the incident as Peller was released. Popoola informed the media that his principal was released on bail after his case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.

At the time of filing this report, it was not ascertained whether Peller slept at the station on Monday night or he was released Tuesday morning. Whatever the case might be, on Tuesday, December 24, Shina Peller, after his release, stated on his social media handle, “My people, I want to thank everyone for the outpour of love and support over the events that occurred yesterday (Monday). I am fine and in good spirits. I am currently heading to Iseyin to spend Christmas with my constituents. All issues are being addressed at the appropriate level and I will release a formal statement in due course.’’

Although it was reported that the lawmaker was arrested for no reason, the police, however, said in a statement that he was arrested for invading the station with thugs.

In a statement by the police public relations Officer, Lagos State command, Bala Elkana, the police towed three vehicles of Quilox’s customers on Monday for obstructing traffic.

“This honourable mobilised over 50 thugs to attack Maroko police station to move those vehicles out. We had to send reinforcement from neighbouring stations before they were able to curtail the situation. That was how he was arrested with five of the thugs, while others escaped.

“The lawmaker is the owner of that club and his customers are fond of parking along the road and blocking it in the process. If you want to pass that place you would have tough times. Up till 9am on Monday morning, the club was still on. They refused to remove their vehicles, and Lagosians plying that route were seriously disturbed. Even the governor was affected; he had to maneuver his way through it,” Elkana stated.

Meanwhile, many people expressed concern on the social media when the issue started on Monday, until Thursday. While some viewed the incident as a disrespect to the personality of the lawmaker, others insisted it was a right step as the lawmaker and his club have been causing untold hardship to people plying that route.

After Rep Peller was released from Panti, where he was detained, he received an award as the Oyo Rep of the Year, 2019. The Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT) conferred him with the honorary award for his service to humanity.

It was learnt that Quilox Club resumed operation on Friday night.