by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
Former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has declined an invitation to appear before the Edo State House of Assembly Ad hoc Committee probing the funding and ownership of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu hotel project.
Obaseki, who had been scheduled to appear on Thursday, said he would not honour the invitation due to ongoing court proceedings on the matter. According to him, it would be inappropriate to comment on issues already before the judiciary.
The committee was established at the request of Governor Monday Okpebholo to examine the state’s financial involvement in the MOWAA and Radisson Blu projects. A letter signed by the committee’s secretary, Bekisu Wilson, also summoned other key individuals, including former government officials and private sector partners such as former Finance Commissioner Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney-General Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Afrinvest Capital MD Ugochukwu Anigbogu, and representatives from Tilbury House Nigeria Limited, Meristem Trustees Limited, and Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.
Obaseki, in a statement released by his media aide Crusoe Osagie, described the invitation as “offensive and laughable,” insisting that the Assembly should understand that the issue is sub judice. He argued that he cannot be compelled to respond to questions on a matter already being handled by the courts.
Similarly, the management of MOWAA has declined the Assembly’s invitation. Their counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, stated that while the legislature may make recommendations, the final decision rests with the court.
The investigation comes amid heightened public scrutiny following the November 9 unrest at a MOWAA exhibition, where protesters disrupted the event, claiming the museum belonged to the Oba of Benin. The incident led to the chaotic evacuation of foreign diplomats, including envoys from the European Union and Germany, who were briefly trapped during the protest.