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The Edo State House of Assembly ad hoc committees investigating the legal, financial, administrative and ownership status of Radisson Hotel and the Museum of West Africa Arts, MOWAA, have urged the state government to take full ownership of the property as their acquisitions were laced with illegalities.

DAILY POST reports that the committees gave the order while presenting their final reports at a press briefing on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Benin.

The final reports were jointly presented by Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbonkhai, chairman of Raddison Hotel and Addeh Emankhu Isibor, chairman of MOWAA committees.

In his report, Ibhamawu, who is the Majority Leader of the House, said the committee findings revealed that the hotel was purchased by the Edo State Government under the administration of the former Governor Godwin Obaseki with the sum of N2 billion on December 23, 2021.

Ibhamawu added that the Certificate of Occupancy issued in the name of Hospitality Investment Management Company (HIMC) is completely illegal as Hospitality Investment and Management Company did not buy the Hotel.

He also said that there was no document transferring title or ownership of the Hotel from the Edo State Government to HIMC, a Limited Liability Company.

Other findings included that there was no resolution of the State Executive Council or the Edo State House of Assembly, authorising the transfer of or vesting ownership of the Hotel from the Edo State Government to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) or the Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC).

“That title to the Hotel remains firmly with the Edo State Government and never shifted from the Edo State Government to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) or the Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC).

“That all agreements entered into in respect of the Hotel to the extent that they seek to acquire its ownership via a purchase of Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC) shares are void ab initio as Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC) is not the owner of the Hotel.

“Mr Fidelis Imiebiakhe who signed the share Purchase Agreement on behalf of the Ministry of Finance as a Director was never a staff member of the Ministry of Finance and is unknown to the Staff list of the Edo State Government.

“That not a single naira of the alleged N10 billion was paid to the Edo State Government in brazen breach of clear Constitutional Provisions.

“That the transaction did not have state Executive Council approval or State House of Assembly approval.

“That former Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki breached the conflict of interest provisions as he appointed his own Company, Afri Invest Capital as financial Advisors to the transaction and his bosom friend and business partner, Asue Ighodalo of Banwo & Ighodalo as Legal advisers to the fraudulent transaction”, he said.

The, committee, however, in its recommendation directed the Edo State Government to immediately retake full and total control of the Hotel, as the State Government did not receive a dime for the Hotel as well as the title to the Hotel was never transferred from the State Government to either Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) nor the Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC).

He also recommended that the State Government contract competent hands to complete the renovation of the Hotel and take all steps to put it into use for the benefit of the good people of Edo State in particular and the world in general.

The committee, further ordered the State Government to immediately revoke the fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy to the property issued in the name of Hospitality Investment and Management Company Limited and revert the same to the Edo State Government that purchased the property.

It also ordered the State Government to initiate legal action and work with relevant Anti-graft Agencies to retrieve the balance of N17.5 billion being proceeds still in the possession of the Escrow Agents, Meristem Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.

On his part, Addeh Emankhu Isibor, the committee chairman of Museum of West Africa Arts (MOWAA) also directed the State Government to take full possession of the premises on which the Museum is built as well as the building itself as it was solely funded by the state government.

Isibor, the Deputy Majority of the House, in its committee’s three-point recommendations opined that the title to the property having never been revoked remains the property of the Central Hospital, Benin City.

He also directed the Government to immediately take all necessary steps to put the property to good use in the best and overriding public interest of the people of Edo State.

Earlier, in its findings, the committee investigating MOWAA, explained that the title of the Central Hospital, Benin City was not revoked by the Edo State Government in line with the Provisions of the Land Use Act before the government issued a Certificate of Occupancy first to Legacy Restoration Trust and subsequently to MOWAA.

It further posited that the title of the land on which the MOWAA Institute was built is still in the name of the Central Hospital, Benin City, its title having never been revoked.

Other findings included that the Edo State Government solely provided the sum of N3,850 billion used to build and develop the MOWAA Institute/Pavilion as there is no proof of any other funds donated in respect of the same.

It added that the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) did not provide proof of receipt of any donations from any Foreign or Local donors in respect of the Project as clearly evidenced by the four-year financial statements of MOWAA audited by one of the World’s leading Accounting Firms, Ernst & Young.

“In a clear case of conflict of interest, the Committee’s investigations revealed that Mr Philip Iheanacho, the Director of MOWAA is a long-standing business Partner of former Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki. Along with Mr Godwin Obaseki, Co-founded Afri Invest West Africa Ltd and Afri Invest Capital Limited.

“Neither the former Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki nor MOWAA Director, Mr. Philip Iheanacho declared their close business relationship to either the State Executive Council or the Edo State House of Assembly before the former Governor proceeded to transfer N3, 850 billion belonging to State Government and attempted to transfer ownership of 6.210 hectares of land belonging to the Central Hospital, Benin City, Edo State to his close friend and business partner of several years ( Mr. Philip Iheanacho).

“That MOWAA did not pay any money for the land and did not pay any money for the Statutory fees for issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy contrary to the claim by MOWAA in Clause 2.4 of the Memorandum of Understanding that the sum or $18 million or N27 billion it allegedly raised from foreign donors was used to complete land acquisition, site preparation and construction of the MOWAA Institute.

“That the claim by the Museum of West Africa Arts (MOWAA) that it raised either $18 million or N27 billion, ог $25million, or N38 billion is in direct contrast to its audited financial statements”, he stated.

Edo Assembly adhoc committees order Gov Okpebholo to take possession of Radisson Hotel, MOWAA

Drama unfolded on Tuesday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama judicial division, during proceedings in the trial of Yahaya Adoza Bello.

Justice Maryann Anenih had earlier delivered judgment in a civil matter before calling the criminal case between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Bello.

Kemi Pinheiro, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, appeared as counsel to the prosecution in the case.

Z. E. Abbas, counsel to the third defendant, was preparing to commence cross-examination of the prosecution witness when the court indicated that it would rise by 2:30pm.

The court, however, said it could consider granting an additional 30 minutes if counsel would be able to conclude the cross-examination within that period.

Responding, Pinheiro urged the court to extend the sitting time to enable the defence to conclude the cross-examination and allow the prosecution to call a fresh witness on the next adjourned date.

Pinheiro said all parties had arrived in court as early as 9:00am but proceedings were delayed because the court first delivered judgment in another matter.

He said the parties had waited for about four hours while the court carefully read the entire judgment in open court.

Pinheiro said, “My Lord, I was actually pitying Your Lordship while reading the entire judgment for almost four hours.

“At the Supreme Court, the practice is that only the first three pages and the last four pages are read during the delivery of judgment.

“That approach saves time and also helps to preserve the health and energy of the court.”

The court subsequently adjourned the matter to Wednesday and Thursday for continuation of cross-examination and further hearing in the trial.

However, the judge directed that the case be placed as number two on the cause list for the following day, despite earlier discussions in court.

Four-hour judgment reading delays Yahaya Bello’s trial at FCT High Court

The Commissioner of Police in Niger State, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing 2025/2026 Police recruitment screening at Police Secondary School, Minna.

Elleman, who inspected the exercise on Tuesday, was accompanied by the State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Bello Magaji, and the Federal Commissioner representing Niger at the Federal Character Commission, Jibril Isah Bida.

The visiting team toured the screening stages guided by DCP Isyaku Usman and Ahmed Gimba of the Police Service Commission, praising the exercise as professional, transparent, and conducted in a conducive environment.

Representatives of the Federal Character Commission, the State Government, and the Police Community Relations Committee were on hand to ensure that qualified Niger State indigenes are fairly enlisted into the Force.

Elleman lauded the Police Service Commission and the Police Force Headquarters for their coordination, assuring continued support from the State Command.

He also reiterated zero tolerance for corruption, stressing that the exercise is free for all applicants.

CP visits Niger Police recruitment centre, hails transparency of exercise

The Federal Government has initiated the evacuation of Nigerians in Iran who wish to leave, facilitating their safe passage across the Armenia border amid escalating regional tensions.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, confirmed the operation in a post on her X account on Tuesday.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the evacuation, ensuring that citizens who opt to leave Iran are safely escorted into Armenia.

“The willing Nigerians in Iran are being safely guided across the Armenia border by officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran, ensuring a smooth and secure process for those seeking to depart,” she stated.

She also reassured that, to date, no Nigerian has been harmed amid the ongoing tensions and that embassy personnel remain on hand at the border to provide assistance and support to evacuees.

The evacuation, carried out in collaboration with Armenian authorities, forms part of the Federal Government’s effort to safeguard Nigerians abroad during emergencies. It emphasizes the government’s vigilance over developments in the Middle East and its commitment to protecting the welfare of citizens overseas.

War: Nigerian govt begins safe evacuation of Nigerians from Iran