By Imelda Osayande
Benin, Dec. 22, 2025 (NAN) – In a decisive move with significant implications for public asset management and governance, the Edo State House of Assembly has passed resolutions urging the state government to reclaim ownership of two high-profile facilities: the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Hotel in Benin City. This action follows in-depth investigations into alleged irregularities surrounding their acquisition and funding.
The resolutions were passed after the Assembly considered detailed reports from two separate ad-hoc committees. These committees were constituted by the Speaker, Chief Blessing Agbebaku, to scrutinize the complex ownership histories and financial arrangements of both assets, which have been subjects of public debate.
MOWAA: A Question of Land, Funding, and Process
Presenting the findings on MOWAA, committee chairman Mr. Isibor Addeh outlined 11 key findings and 3 recommendations. The investigation revealed a contentious foundation for the project:
Land Ownership Dispute: The committee asserted that the land for MOWAA, a 6.210-hectare parcel, was originally part of the Central Hospital complex. Crucially, they found that the hospital’s title was never formally revoked before Certificates of Occupancy were issued first to the Legacy Restoration Trust and subsequently to MOWAA. The report highlighted that no compensation was paid for this land, raising fundamental legal and ethical questions about the transaction’s validity.
State-Funded Development: A central pillar of the Assembly’s argument for takeover is the claim of exclusive state financing. The committee reported that the Edo State Government provided the sum of N3.850 billion for the development of the MOWAA Pavilion. It stated there was “no evidence of any other financial contribution,” framing the project not as a public-private partnership but as a publicly funded venture managed by a private entity.
Allegations of Favoritism and Conflict: The report delved into personal connections, alleging that MOWAA Director, Mr. Philip Ehenacho George, was a long-time business partner of former Governor Godwin Obaseki through AfriInvest companies. It further claimed Mr. George was “illegally gifted” 55% of Edo Government shares in the Benin Enterprise Park via Amaya Real Estate. These allegations, while presented as findings, suggest the committee’s view that the project was facilitated by insider access rather than transparent due process.
Based on these findings, the Assembly adopted the recommendation for the state government to “immediately take over possession” of the MOWAA premises. It emphasized that the land “remains Central Hospital property” and should be urgently repurposed for the benefit of Edo citizens.
Radisson Hotel: Allegations of a “Fraudulent” Transfer
The second committee, whose report was presented by Majority Leader Mr. Jonathan Ibhamawu, detailed 13 findings and 4 recommendations concerning the Radisson Hotel. The narrative presented is one of a state asset allegedly being diverted through questionable legal instruments.
State Purchase, Private Assignment: The committee confirmed that the Edo State Government purchased the hotel for N2 billion in December 2021. However, it described a subsequent Deed of Assignment involving the Hospitality Investment Management Company (HIMC) as “totally fraudulent,” arguing that since the state never legally divested its ownership, it could not assign rights to another party.
Legal and Procedural Breaches: The report declared the Certificate of Occupancy issued to HIMC “completely illegal,” noting that no legal title transfer from the state government had occurred. It stressed a critical procedural failure: there was no approval for any ownership transfer by either the State Executive Council or the House of Assembly, as mandated by law for the disposal of state assets. The Assembly maintained that ownership “remains with the Edo State Government” and was never legitimately transferred to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) or HIMC.
Voiding Agreements and Calling for Control: The House went further to declare any agreements seeking to transfer ownership through HIMC share purchases as “void.” It again alleged conflicts of interest involving the former governor and his associates. The adopted recommendations urge the government to “take full and total control” of the hotel immediately, revoke the “fraudulent” C of O issued to HIMC, and engage a reputable contractor to complete renovations for the benefit of Edo residents.
Broader Implications and Unanswered Questions
These resolutions represent more than a simple asset recovery effort; they are a profound legislative intervention into the state’s governance and financial history. The reports implicitly accuse the previous administration of circumventing legal safeguards for the disposal of public assets, potentially costing the state billions in investments and future revenue.
The move sets the stage for potential legal battles with the current managers of both facilities and tests the resolve of the current state government to act on the Assembly’s directives. It also raises larger questions about transparency in public-private projects, the sanctity of public land, and the mechanisms for holding past administrations accountable for financial decisions. The coming weeks will reveal how the executive branch responds and what steps are taken to enforce these sweeping resolutions. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
IMEL/KTO
==========
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
