Edo Assembly Denies Targeting Obaseki In MOWAA, Radisson Blu Probe

The Edo State House of Assembly ad-hoc committees investigating the ownership of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu Hotel have said the probe was not aimed at victimising former governor, Godwin Obaseki.

The committees, however, stated that Obaseki failed to inform the Assembly when plans were made to transfer ownership of the Radisson Blu Hotel to the Hospitality Investments and Management Company (HIMC), despite legislative approval of N2 billion for the purchase of the hotel.

Chairmen of the committees, Hon. Ibhamawu Aigbokhan and Hon. Addeh Isibor, disclosed this while presenting the findings of their investigations.

Presenting the report on the Museum of West African Art, Hon. Addeh said claims by the management that the organisation raised N37 billion contradicted its audited financial statements.

According to him, the committee recommended that Governor Monday Okpebholo take over possession of the entire premises where MOWAA is located, on the grounds that the Edo State Government funded the project.

Addeh further stated that the committee recommended that the land on which the project is situated should remain the property of Central Hospital, Benin, noting that the land title was never officially revoked.

He said: “That the Edo State Government should immediately take all steps to put the property to good use in the best and overriding public interest of the people.”

On the Radisson Blu Hotel probe, Aigbokhan said the committee recommended that the Edo State Government take full control of the hotel, stressing that the state had not received any financial return from the project.

He added that the title to the hotel was never transferred from the Edo State Government to either the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) or HIMC.

According to him: “That the Edo State Government should engage competent contractors to complete the renovation of the hotel and take all necessary steps to put it to use for the benefit of the people of Edo State and the general public.”

The committee also recommended the immediate revocation of what it described as a fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy issued in favour of HIMC, directing that ownership be reverted to the Edo State Government.

Furthermore, the committee urged the state government to initiate legal action and collaborate with relevant anti-graft agencies to recover the balance of the N17.5 billion bond proceeds allegedly still in the custody of escrow agents, Meristem Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.