Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Edo State House of Assembly Ad hoc Committees on the Musuem for West Africa Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu Hotel have asked Governor Monday Okpebholo to take over ownership of the controversial projects.
Truth Live News Media reports that the Radisson Blu Hotel and MOWAA were parts of legacy projects of the immediate past governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki Obaseki.
Speaking at the public presentation of the report on investigation into MOWAA, Chairman of the committee, Hon Addeh Isibor, said claims by MOWAA’s management that it raised N37 billion was in direct contrast to MOWAA’s audited financial statement.
Addeh said 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 was that the the property remained that of the Central Hospital as it was never revoked.
“That the Edo State Government should immediately takes all step to put the property to good use in the best and overriding public interest of the people.”
On his part, Hon Ibhamawu Aigbokhan, presented report on Radisson Blu Hotel,
The committees 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.
Chairmen of both committees, Hon Ibhamawu Aigbokhan and Hon Addeh Isibor, spoke when they officially made public findings of the committees.
Hon Addeh, who gave report on MOWAA, said said the committee recommended full and total control of the Radisson Hotel because it did not receive a kobo for the Hotel.
He said title to the Hotel was never transferred from the Edo State Government to either Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) nor 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 immediate 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.
“That the Edo State Government initiate legal action and work with relevant Anti-graft Agencies to retrieve the balance of N17.5 billion bond proceeds still in the possession of the Escrow Agents, Meristem Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.”
He said findings revealed that the Edo State Government purchased the Hotel Complex fully built for N2 billion.
The committees 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.
