Probe into MOWAA, Radisson Blu Hotel not to victimise Obaseki, says Edo Assembly
Edo State House of Assembly ad-hoc committees on the Museum for West Africa Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu Hotel have said that the probe into ownership of the two
Edo State House of Assembly ad-hoc committees on the Museum for West Africa Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu Hotel have said that the probe into ownership of the two projects was not to victimise former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The committees stated 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 N2bn to be used to purchase the hotel.
Chairmen of both committees, Hon Ibhamawu Aigbokhan and Hon Addeh Isibor, spoke when they officially released the committees' findings.
Hon Addeh, reporting on MOWAA, said claims by MOWAA's management that it raised N37bn were in direct contrast to MOWAA's audited financial statement.
Addeh stated 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, according to Addeh, was that the property remain 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."
On his part, Hon Ibhamawu said the committee recommended total control of the Radisson 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).
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 immediately revoke the fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy for 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 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."
