The Edo State House of Assembly has moved to compel former Governor Godwin Obaseki and several others to appear before its ad hoc committee investigating the Museum of West African Art project and the Radisson Hotel development.
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The lawmakers are examining how the state’s funds were used, including the N3.8bn committed to MOWAA and N28bn invested in the hotel.
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The committee began its latest session with empty seats as Obaseki and other invited figures stayed away. Lawmakers said they have the authority to order the Police to bring anyone needed for the investigation and noted that those refusing invitations cannot claim they were denied the chance to defend themselves.
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The committee explained that Obaseki and a few others wrote through their lawyers, saying ongoing lawsuits relating to MOWAA justified their absence. The panel rejected those reasons and said its work is strictly to gather facts for the state and not to target any individual.
Lawmakers stressed that filing a lawsuit does not stop an Assembly investigation and pointed out that none of the letters included court documents restricting the hearings. They argued that the sudden rush to court appeared meant to slow the inquiry, but the Assembly is not listed in the suit and therefore remains free to continue.
The panel said it intends to reach the bottom of how the projects were funded and will use every tool allowed by law to complete its work. Members insisted they will not abandon the assignment and warned that further refusal to appear could trigger an arrest order.
Those summoned include former Finance Commissioner Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney General Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, project consultants, and trustees linked to the funding and management of the two projects.
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