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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The findings and recommendations of the Edo State House of Assembly committee, which investigated funding and ownership of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and the Radisson Hotel projects, will be fully implemented, Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised.
The governor made the promise when he received the report and resolutions of the Edo State House of Assembly, which indicted former Governor Godwin Obaseki on the projects.
Recall that the Edo Assembly had set up a five-man committee headed by Hon. Addeh Isibor to investigate the projects following a request by Governor Okpebholo.
The governor, while receiving the report, said the **Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)** would be invited to further examine issues raised in the recommendations, stressing that the Edo State Government has significant stakes in the MOWAA and Radisson Blu hotel, having invested ₦3.8 billion in each project.
Governor Okpebholo stated that changes in the structure and nomenclature of the MOWAA project made the investigation unavoidable, adding that it was unacceptable to suggest Edo State has only 10 per cent stake in the Radisson Blu hotel despite investing over ₦28 billion.
“Edo State has spent over ₦3.8 billion on this project, yet some people are saying the state has no stake in it. That is totally unacceptable. I will work with your recommendations and forward them to the relevant authorities to investigate what truly happened. We will also involve the EFCC.
“Our investment in this project is over ₦28 billion. We must invite the EFCC to step in and determine if this is how businesses are conducted in Nigeria,” the governor added.
The State House of Assembly had in its recommendations urged the Edo State Government to take possession of both projects and to contract competent hands to complete renovation of the hotel and take all steps to put the hotel to use.
The recommendations also urged the Edo State Government to 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.
The Assembly further recommended that the Edo State Government initiate legal action and work with relevant anti-graft agencies to retrieve both the complete statement of account and the balance of the Seventeen Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (₦17,500,000,000.00) bond proceeds still in the possession of the escrow agents, Meristem Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.
“The title to the MOWAA property having never been revoked, same remains the property of the Central Hospital, Benin City.
“That the Edo State Government immediately takes all necessary steps to put the property to good use in the best and overriding public interest of the people of Edo State.”
Earlier, while presenting the report to the governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, in his remarks, said the facts about MOWAA and Radisson Blu hotel were now clearly documented in resolutions and outcomes.
