The Edo State House of Assembly’s Ad-hoc Committees have commenced a public hearing into the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and Radisson Blu Hotel projects, with a focus on the role of edha in these initiatives.
The committee alleged that the MOWAA and Radisson Blu Hotel projects were initiated by former Governor Godwin Obaseki under unclear circumstances, highlighting the involvement of edha in the process.
With various stakeholders in the matter present, the Managing Director of Edogis, Dr Tony Ikpasaja, revealed that the Legacy Restoration Trust Limited, now MOWAA institute, is built on 4.7 hectares of land with a processing worth over 33million naira, subsequently gifted to MOWAA by former Governor Godwin Obaseki, leaving Central Hospital, who originally own the property by traditional rights with just 2.3 hectares, an aspect that edha has been scrutinising.
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“From the record at our disposal, it shows that the land taken from the central hospital complex was 4.7 hectare which automatically makes it having the better part of it.”
Responding, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Tourism, Desmond Agbama, said only 4.5billion naira in five stretches was approved by his office and paid to legacy restoration and MOWAA trusts limited, respectively, to be paid back in counterparts.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Bernard Aigbe, said the accountant general at that time was autonomous in releasing funds.
The public hearing for MOWAA was adjourned till next week to enable it to get ample time to invite the accountant general and other parties to their next sitting to ensure a fair hearing and proper preparation.
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