Edo Assembly adhoc committees order Gov Okpebholo to take possession of Radisson Hotel, MOWAA
Edo Assembly Committees Urge State to Reclaim Radisson Hotel and MOWAA
BENIN CITY, Edo State — The ad hoc committees of the Edo State House of Assembly investigating the legal, financial, and administrative status of the Radisson Hotel and the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) have recommended that the state government reclaim full ownership of these properties, citing serious irregularities in their acquisition.
The committees made their recommendations during a press briefing on March 10, 2026, following the presentation of their final reports. The reports were delivered by Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbonkhai, chairman of the Radisson Hotel committee, and Addeh Emankhu Isibor, chairman of the MOWAA committee.
In his report, Aigbonkhai, who also serves as the Majority Leader of the House, stated that the hotel was purchased by the Edo State Government for N2 billion on December 23, 2021, under the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki. He asserted that the Certificate of Occupancy issued to Hospitality Investment Management Company (HIMC) was illegal, as there was no proper transfer of ownership from the state to HIMC.
Aigbonkhai noted several key findings, including the absence of necessary approvals from the State Executive Council or the Edo State House of Assembly for the transfer of the hotel’s ownership to HIMC or the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI). He emphasized that the state government retained the title to the hotel and that any agreements aimed at transferring ownership were void, as HIMC did not own the property.
The report further indicated that an alleged payment of N10 billion to the state government was never made, constituting a breach of constitutional provisions. Aigbonkhai criticized former Governor Obaseki for appearing to violate conflict-of-interest provisions by engaging his own company, Afri Invest Capital, as financial advisors and involving close associates in the transaction.
The committee recommended that the Edo State Government promptly regain control of the Radisson Hotel, as no funds had been received for its purchase. They advised that the government enlist experts to complete renovations and utilize the hotel for the benefit of the community. The committees also urged the government to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy issued to HIMC and take legal steps to recover N17.5 billion held by escrow agents.
In addition, Isibor called for the state government to assume full possession of the MOWAA premises, asserting that the museum was entirely funded by the state. He noted that the title of the land on which MOWAA was built had not been revoked, indicating that it remained under the ownership of the Central Hospital, Benin City.
The MOWAA committee’s findings revealed that the state government alone financed the construction, disbursing N3.85 billion with no evidence of other contributions. There was no documented proof of donations from foreign or local sources, as evidenced by audited financial statements from Ernst & Young.
Investigations also highlighted a potential conflict of interest involving MOWAA Director Philip Iheanacho, who has a longstanding business relationship with former Governor Obaseki. The report noted that neither Iheanacho nor Obaseki disclosed this relationship before the attempted transfer of state assets.
The committees emphasized that MOWAA had not paid for the land or the associated statutory fees, contradicting its claims regarding the funding of the project. The report also disputed claims of significant fundraising, indicating discrepancies in MOWAA’s financial statements.
As a result of their findings, the committees have put forth a series of recommendations aimed at rectifying the situation and ensuring that the interests of Edo State residents are prioritized.
