MOWAA: Obaseki Rejects Edo Assembly’s Invitation

The immediate-past governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has rejected the invitation by the Edo State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate funding and ownership of the controversial Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu Hotel in Benin City.

The Edo State House of Assembly had set up the panel following a request by Governor Monday Okpebholo that the Assembly should probe funding and ownership of the two projects including extent of the state government’s N3.8bn investment in MOWAA and N28bn in Radisson Blu Hotel.

Former Governor Obaseki was scheduled to appear before the legislative Committee on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

The Committee had in a letter signed by its Secretary, Bekisu Oshone Wilson, listed other persons invited to include a former Finance Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe; former Attorney General, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, and Managing Director, Tilbury House Nigeria Limited.

Others were Mr. Pramod Thorat, Project Manager of Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC); Mr. Ugochukwu Anigbogu, Managing Director, Afrinvest Capital Limited; Managing Director, Meristem Trustees Limited, and Managing Director, Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.

The statement said attendance by Obaseki and others were required as part of the committee’s investigation.

However, Obaseki, who spoke through his media adviser, Crusoe Osagie, said it was offensive and laughable for the State Assembly to invite him over a matter that was already in court.

He said the Edo Assembly should learn to know how the law works, adding he could not be subjected to answer questions separately on the same issue.

“It is subjudice for the former Governor to appear before the Edo Assembly in a matter already in court.
Why subject him to another round of questioning on the same issues?” the spokesman stated.

The Management of MOWAA had also refused to appear before the Edo State House of Assembly Ad Hoc Committee.

Its counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, said the Assembly could only make recommendations but that the court would make the final decision on the issues.