Edo Assembly committees direct Okpebholo to take over MOWAA, Radisson Blu Hotel

By Jethro Ibileke

Two Ad hoc Committees set up by Edo House of Assembly have asked Governor Monday Okpebholo to take over Museum for West Africa Arts (MOWAA) and Radisson Blu Hotel while arguing that the two projects were funded entirely with money from the state.

The Committees made the recommendation while revealing their findings on the ownership of the two projects allegedly being executed through public-private partnership by the immediate past administration led by ex-governor Godwin Obaseki on Tuesday.

While revealing findings of his committee, the Chairman of the committee on MOWAA, Addeh Isibor asked Okpebholo to take over possession of the entire premises on which MOWAA is built.

He said claims by MOWAA’s management that it raised ₦37 billion was in direct contrast to MOWAA’s audited financial statement.

He disclosed that the the property remained that of the Central Hospital as it was never revoked.

“The Edo State Government should immediately take all step to put the property to good use in the best and overriding public interest of the people,” he said.

Also giving the findings of his committee, the Chairman of the ad hoc committee on Radisson Blu Hotel, Ibhamawu Aigbokhan, said the committee recommended full and total control of the Radisson Hotel because it did not receive a kobo for the Hotel.

He said title to the Hotel was never transferred from the Edo State Government to either Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) nor the Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC).

Aigbokhan disclosed that Obaseki did not inform the Assembly when he wanted to transfer ownership of the Radisson Hotel to the Hospitality Investments and Management Company (HIMC), even when the Assembly gave approval for ₦2 billion to be used to purchase the hotel.

According to him, “That the Edo State Government should contract competent hands to complete the renovation of the Hotel and take all steps to put the Hotel to use for the benefit of the good people of Edo State in particular and the world in general.

“The Edo State Government should immediate revoke the fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy to the property issued in the name of Hospitality Investment and Management Company Limited and revert same to the Edo State Government that purchased the property.

“That the Edo State Government initiate legal action and work with relevant Anti-graft Agencies to retrieve the balance of the Hundred Million Naira Seventeen Billion, Five (N17,500,000,000.00) Bond proceeds still in the possession of the Escrow Agents, Meristem Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.”

Both committees however said that the probe into ownership of the two projects was not to victimise former Governor Godwin Obaseki.