Obaseki Rejects Edo Assembly Summons As MOWAA And Radisson Probe Remains In Court
The immediate past Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has declined to appear before the State House of Assembly’s Ad hoc Committee investigating the funding and ownership of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu hotel. Obaseki, who was scheduled to testify on Thursday, said the matter is already before the courts, making the Assembly’s invitation unnecessary. The panel was set up following a request from Governor Monday Okpebholo to probe the projects, including the state government’s financial involvement in MOWAA and the Radisson hotel. Alongside Obaseki, the Committee, through a letter signed by Secretary Bekisu Wilson, invited several other key figures. These include former Edo Finance Commissioner Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney-General Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, and the Managing Director of Tilbury House Nigeria Limited. Other invitees included Pramod Thorat, Project Manager of the Hospitality Investment and Management Company; Ugochukwu Anigbogu, Managing Director of Afrinvest Capital Limited; and the Managing Directors of Meristem Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd. The Committee said their appearances were crucial for its investigative work. Obaseki, through his media aide Crusoe Osagie, dismissed the invitation as “offensive and laughable,” insisting it was inappropriate to summon him over a matter already being adjudicated. He added, “The Edo Assembly should understand how the law works. It is sub judice for the former governor to appear before the Assembly on an issue already in court. Why subject him to another round of questioning on the same issues?” MOWAA management has also refused to appear before the Committee. Its lawyer, Olayiwola Afolabi, said the Assembly could only make recommendations, while the courts have the authority to resolve the issues conclusively. Tensions around the museum flared on November 9, when an exhibition intended for investors, artists, and foreign envoys descended into chaos. Protesters claiming the museum belonged to the Oba of Benin stormed the venue, forcing the event to shut down. Viral footage showed foreign dignitaries, including ambassadors from the European Union and Germany, being evacuated under tight security after being trapped by the protesters, raising serious safety concerns.