The Edo State House of Assembly ad hoc committee, mandated to investigate two controversial state projects, issued a dramatic warning on Thursday, asserting its constitutional authority to issue an arrest warrant for former Governor Godwin Obaseki and compel his appearance. The former governor has repeatedly declined to appear before the panel.
The committee was constituted following a request by the current administration under Governor Monday Okpebholo to probe the funding, ownership, and financial scope of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and the Radisson Hotel projects. The probe is scrutinizing the state’s substantial investment, which includes N3.8bn in MOWAA and N28bn in the Radisson Hotel.
The former governor, alongside other key officials, was invited to testify. However, the committee’s Chairman, Addeh Isibor, revealed at a resumed sitting that Obaseki and others had submitted letters through their legal representatives, citing various lawsuits as justification for their refusal to attend. Specifically, Obaseki cited lawsuits filed in various courts against MOWAA as justification for not attending. Management of MOWAA had also previously declined to appear.
Angered by the stonewalling, Isibor stressed that the committee was engaged in a fact-finding mission, not a witch-hunt, and insisted its final report would be based strictly on verifiable facts. He strongly condemned the legal tactics employed to obstruct the investigation.
“These gentlemen have unilaterally chosen to absent themselves, citing court cases regarding our sitting or issues under consideration,” Isibor stated. “We know the position of the law. We are not dunces but cerebral people. We are constitutionally mandated to carry out investigations or hearings on any matter to which we have the power of appropriation.”