The Edo State government has initiated the process of probing the immediate past governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki following a letter to the state House of Assembly on Monday asking it to investigate two ongoing projects he initiated, namely the Radisson Blu Hotel and the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).
In a move signaling heightened scrutiny over the financial legacy of the previous administration, the Edo State House of Assembly has begun investigations into two high-profile projects initiated under former Governor Godwin Obaseki: the Radisson Blu Hotel and the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).
The probe, triggered by a formal request from incumbent Governor Monday Okpebholo, comes just weeks into his tenure and underscores ongoing tensions between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Obaseki’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The assembly received the governor’s letter during Monday’s plenary session, prompting immediate action. Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, confirmed the receipt and directed relevant committees to commence a thorough inquiry into the projects’ execution, funding, and ownership structures.
“This is in line with our constitutional mandate to ensure transparency and accountability in governance,” Agbebaku stated, emphasizing that the investigation aims to safeguard public funds without prejudice to any individual.
The Radisson Blu Hotel, a multi-billion-naira five-star development in Benin City, and MOWAA, a cultural landmark intended to showcase West African heritage, were flagship initiatives of Obaseki’s eight-year administration (2016–2024).
Both projects, which broke ground in the final years of his term, have been mired in controversy since the APC’s transition committee flagged potential irregularities in late 2024.
That report, submitted ahead of Okpebholo’s inauguration on November 12, 2024, alleged “massive fraud” in several Obaseki-era ventures, including these two, citing a lack of financial statements and unclear equity stakes for the state.
It specifically called for probes into the “true ownership” of the assets, questioning whether private interests had overshadowed public benefits.
Governor Okpebholo, a first-term APC leader who campaigned on anti-corruption pledges, reiterated in his letter that the review is essential for fiscal prudence.
Sources close to the administration told Daily South Nigeria that the probe may extend to procurement processes, contract awards, and compliance with due diligence protocols.
As of last month, MOWAA was reportedly 80% complete, while the Radisson Blu project had advanced to structural phases, though critics have long decried their siting and cost overruns.
Obaseki, who handed over power amid a contentious election marked by PDP allegations of electoral malpractice, has yet to respond publicly to the latest development.
His media aides dismissed earlier transition committee claims as “politically motivated witch-hunts” aimed at derailing his post-governorship influence, even as PDP stakeholders in Edo have warned that the probe could escalate into a broader partisan battle, potentially paralyzing legislative progress.
As Benin City buzzes with speculation, the probe arrives at a pivotal moment for Okpebholo’s administration, which inherited a state grappling with debt burdens and infrastructure gaps.
