Probe into MOWAA, Radisson Blu Hotel not to victimise Obaseki –Edo Assembly

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

Edo State House of Assembly Ad hoc Committees on the Musuem for West Africa Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu Hotel, explained yesterday that the probe into the ownership of the two projects was not to victimise former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Chairmen of both committees, Ibhamawu Aigbokhan and Addeh Isibor, stated this while officially making public findings of their committees.

They said 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 N2 billion to be used to purchase the hotel.

Giving the report on MOWAA, Isibor said claims by MOWAA’s management that it raised N37 billion was in direct contrast to MOWAA’s audited financial statement.

He disclosed that the committee, in its recommendation, asked Governor Monday Okpebholo to take over possession of the entire premises on which MOWAA is built since the state government funded the entire project.

Another recommendation, he said, was that the property remained that of the Central Hospital as it was never revoked.

“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.”

Similarly, while presenting the report on Radisson Blu Hotel, Aigbokhan said the committee recommended full and total control of the Radisson Blu Hotel because it did not receive a kobo for the hotel.

He said the title to the hotel was never transferred from the Edo State Government to either the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) or the Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC).

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

“The Edo State Government should immediately revoke the fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy to the property issued in the name of Hospitality Investment and Management Company Limited and revert the 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 N17.5 billion Bond proceeds still in the possession of the Escrow agents, Meristem Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.”