FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Edo State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committees on the Musuem for West Africa Arts, MOWAA, and the Radisson Blu Hotel said the probe into the 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 hotel to the Hospitality Investments and Management Company, HIMC, even when it gave approval for N2billion to be used to purchase the hotel.
Chairmen of both committees, Ibhamawu Aigbokhan and Addeh Isibor, spoke when they officially made public, the findings of the committees.
Addeh, who gave a report on MOWAA, said claims by its management that it raised N37 billion was 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 was built since the state government funded the entire project.
Another recommendation, according to Addeh, is that the property remains with Central Hospital as it was never revoked.
“That the Edo State government should immediately take steps to put the property to good use in the best and overriding public interest of the people.”
On his part, Ibhamawu added that the committee recommended full and total control of Radisson Hotel because it did not receive a kobo for the hotel.
He added that the title to the hotel was never transferred from the Edo State government to either the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, MOFI, nor the Hospitality Investment and Management Company.
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 it to use for the benefit of the people of Edo State in particular and the world in general.
“The Edo State government should immediately revoke the fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy of 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 state government initiate legal action and work with relevant anti-graft agencies to retrieve the balance of the N17.5 billion bond proceeds still in the possession of Escrow Agents, Meristem Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.”
