The Edo State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee investigating the Museum of West African Art, MOWAA, and the Radisson Hotel project has summoned former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to appear before it for questioning.
The development was disclosed in a statement released on Thursday by the committee’s secretary, Bekisu Oshone.
According to Oshone, Obaseki and several other individuals invited are expected to honour the summons on December 4 as part of the committee’s ongoing inquiry. Among those listed to appear are former Commissioner for Finance, Joseph Eboigbe; former Attorney General, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi; MOWAA Director, Philip Iheanacho; and the Managing Director of Tilbury House Nigeria Limited.
Also scheduled to appear are Pramod Thorat, the Project Manager with Hospitality Investment and Management Company; Ugochukwu Anigbogu, Managing Director of Afrinvest Capital Limited; the Managing Director of Meristem Trustees Limited; and the Managing Director of Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.
The statement read, “The Edo State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee constituted to investigate the Museum of West African Arts and the Radisson Hotel invites former Governor Godwin Obaseki and 10 others/organisations (listed above) to appear before the committee for a public hearing on December 4.”
It explained that the invitations were issued to enable the committee to obtain detailed clarifications on matters under review, including the financing structure for the Radisson Hotel project. Both the MOWAA initiative and the hotel project were conceived during Obaseki’s administration.
While MOWAA’s first phase has already been completed, the Radisson Hotel is reported to be approaching its finishing stages. However, the museum came under public attention in November when an exhibition held on November 9 was disrupted after protesters stormed the venue, causing the event to be abruptly terminated.
The preview event, which was intended for investors, artists and diplomatic representatives, descended into chaos when a mob claiming that the museum belonged to the Oba of Benin forced its way in. Viral videos from the incident showed foreign dignitaries being escorted out amid heavy security.
Ambassadors from the European Union, Germany and other visiting officials were reportedly held up by the disturbance, raising concerns about diplomatic safety and the museum’s operational environment.
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