Former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said he will not honour the invitation issued by the ad-hoc committee of the Edo State House of Assembly investigating the funding and ownership structure of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu hotel.
The Assembly established the committee after Governor Monday Okpebholo requested that lawmakers probe the financing and ownership of these projects, which include the state government’s N3.8bn investment in MOWAA and N28bn in the Radisson Hotel.
Obaseki had been scheduled to appear before the committee on Thursday, December 4th, 2025.
In a letter signed by the committee’s Secretary, Bekisu Oshone Wilson, the panel also invited several individuals, among them former Edo Finance Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney General of the state, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, and the Managing Director of Tilbury House Nigeria Limited.
Other invitees include Mr. Pramod Thorat, Project Manager of Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC), Mr. Ugochukwu Anigbogu, Managing Director of Afrinvest Capital Limited, the Managing Director of Meristem Trustees Limited, and the Managing Director of Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.
The statement noted that the attendance of Obaseki and the others was required as part of the panel’s investigative process.
Speaking through his media adviser, Crusoe Osagie, Obaseki described the invitation as both offensive and laughable, arguing that the issue was already before the court.
He said the Edo Assembly should understand how the legal system operates.
The former governor insisted he could not be made to respond separately to a matter already undergoing judicial scrutiny.
He stated: “It is subjudice for the former Governor to appear before the Edo Assembly in a matter already in court.”
He further asked: “Why subject him to another round of questioning on the same issues?”
The management of MOWAA has also declined to appear before the ad-hoc committee.
Its counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, maintained that while the Assembly may make recommendations, it is the Court that will ultimately give the final ruling on the matter.
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