The Edo State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee probing the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and Radisson Hotel projects has threatened to issue arrest warrants for former Governor Godwin Obaseki and several others who failed to honour its summons.
The committee was set up after Governor Monday Okpebholo requested an investigation into the funding and ownership of the two controversial projects. At its sitting on Thursday, the panel stated that it has the constitutional authority to direct the police to compel any individual to appear before it.
Aside from Obaseki, those summoned include former Commissioner for Finance Joseph Eboigbe; former Attorney-General Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi; Managing Director of Tilbury House Nigeria Ltd, Pramod Thorat; Project Manager of Hospitality Investment and Management Company, Ugochukwu Anigbogu; and the Managing Directors of Afrinvest Capital Ltd, Meristem Trustees Ltd, and Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.
The panel is examining alleged investments of ₦3.8 billion in the MOWAA project and ₦28 billion in the Radisson Hotel project.
Committee Chairman Addeh Isibor said all those invited declined the invitation through letters sent by their lawyers, claiming there were ongoing court cases related to the probe.
He emphasised that the committee was only gathering facts and not targeting anyone, adding that the final report would be based strictly on evidence.
Isibor stated, “These gentlemen have chosen to stay away, claiming that there are court cases regarding our sitting. We know the law. We are not dunces. We are constitutionally empowered to investigate any matter within our appropriation authority.
“The mere filing of a suit does not amount to a stay of proceedings. They went to court only after we began the hearing.
“No judge can stop our sitting. If you refuse to appear, you cannot later claim you were denied a fair hearing.
“It is even more troubling that none of the SANs attached court documents to the letters. They rushed to court at night. These are empty letters.
“They want to stop this committee from uncovering the truth. We reject the letters because they lack merit. The Edo Assembly is not a party to the suit.
“The committee has the power to direct the police to bring those concerned before us. There is no letter stopping us from finishing this assignment.”
The committee is expected to continue its investigation despite the absence of the invited individuals.
