Edo Assembly Moves to Arrest Obaseki, Others Over MOWAA, Radisson Hotel Probe

Edo Assembly Moves to Arrest Obaseki, Others Over MOWAA, Radisson Hotel Probe

The Edo State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee investigating the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and Radisson Hotel projects has threatened to issue arrest warrants for former Governor Godwin Obaseki and other officials who have refused to appear before it.

The committee, set up following Governor Monday Okpebholo’s directive to uncover the funding structure and ownership of the projects, stated on Thursday that it has full constitutional powers to direct the police to compel attendance for questioning.

Among those invited alongside Obaseki are former Finance Commissioner Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney-General Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Tilbury House Nigeria Ltd. Managing Director Pramod Thorat, Hospitality Investment and Management Company Project Manager Ugochukwu Anigbogu, and the Managing Directors of Afrinvest Capital Limited, Meristem Trustees Limited, and Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.

The probe focuses on the Edo State Government’s alleged investment of ₦3.8 billion in MOWAA and ₦28 billion in the Radisson Hotel project.

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Committee chairman Addeh Isibor revealed that Obaseki and others declined the invitation through their lawyers, claiming the matter was already before the court. He, however, insisted that pending litigation does not halt the Assembly’s investigative powers.

According to Isibor, the committee is strictly on a fact-finding mission, not a political witch-hunt, and will base its report on verified evidence.

He said the letters sent by the invitees were “empty” and “lacking in merit,” noting that no court documents were attached. He added that the Assembly is not a party to the alleged lawsuit and has received no legal order restraining the investigation.

Isibor maintained that “the mere filing of a suit does not amount to a stay of proceedings,” stressing that the committee will continue its work and can request police intervention if the officials continue to ignore invitations.

He affirmed: “The committee has the power to ask the police to bring those concerned here. We have no letter stopping us from completing our assignment.”

Edo Assembly Moves to Arrest Obaseki, Others Over MOWAA, Radisson Hotel Probe