A lady identified as Chinyere Awuda has allegedly been beaten to death inside Cosmila Hotel in Awka, Anambra State capital, where she went clubbing.

The corpse of the deceased, who hailed from Nnobi, in the Idemili South Local Government Area of the state, was said to have been found the following morning near the hotel’s swimming pool where it was dumped.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident happened on Saturday when some friends of a man celebrating his birthday were throwing money at him while he was dancing at the hotel.

The state government has since sealed off the hotel.

Our correspondent gathered on Thursday that she was beaten to death for allegedly picking some of the money thrown at the person celebrating his birthday.

A source at the scene who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the nature of the incident said, “Trouble started for the girl when she was accused of picking part of the money being sprayed on the birthday host.”

“The girl was at the club when trouble broke out, and a man and his friends started beating her after she was accused of picking money from the floor.”

“They also said she did not only pick money from the floor but went for bundles of money, which one of them put by his seat side.”

“The girl was beaten when they caught her. Despite the efforts made by other people in the hotel to rescue her, they continued to beat and molest her.”

“She was later dragged outside the club and her lifeless body dumped into the hotel’s swimming pool.”

The hotel’s Operational Manager, Mr Stanley Akunezili, claimed he was not around as of the time the incident happened but that he was briefed by the club manager.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said the man who celebrated his birthday and his friends were already in police custody while the case was being investigated.

“Four suspects are in our custody in connection with the incident. The hotel management assisted the police in arresting the suspects and the investigation is still ongoing. Further details shall be communicated,” Ikenga said.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government sealed off the hotel immediately after reports of the incident became public.

The state Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Entertainment, Don Onyeji, confirmed the development to journalists in Awka on Thursday.

Onyeji said the CCTV camera had been retrieved from the hotel management and the footage of the incident was being studied to unravel the real cause of the incident.

He said the facility would remain sealed pending the outcome of the investigation into the cause of the deceased’s death.

“We have visited the hotel after the report of the incident filtered in and we have also sealed it off. We are in touch with the police who have made some arrests and are already investigating the matter.”

“We have the CCTV camera and we are studying the footage at the moment. For now, the facility will remain sealed, pending the outcome of the police investigation,” he said.

@ Punch Newspaper