Godwin Obaseki
By Kingsley Abavo in Benin
A 14-man ad-hoc investigative committee has been set up for the projects initiated by the immediate past governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.
Obaseki initiated the Randisson Blu Hotel, and Museum of West Africa Arts (MOWAA) which were executed to a high level of completion before his departure, last year.
On assumption of office, the Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration was curious to know the cost, and stake of the State in the projects.
Governor Okpebholo on Monday, October 20, 2025 sent a letter to the State Assembly requesting it to probe the projects to ascertain their statuses and the State Government’s stake in each of the projects.
Announcing the 14-man committee at plenary sitting on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku named a seven-man investigative committee members for each of the two projects.
”The clerk read a letter on the floor of this House from the Governor, asking the House to please investigate two important projects that were done by the previous administration.
“One of those projects are the Raddisson Blue Hotel and the MOWAA.
“For us to do a thorough job, as we said, we will announce the names of the members that will form the ad-hoc committee that will investigate those projects.
“The investigation should start immediately and report back to the house in one month”, the Speaker said.
The speaker named Hon. Jonathan Ibhawamau, House Majority Leader and member representing Esan West constituency as Chairman of the committee to investigate Radisson Blue Hotel.
Other committee members are Osamwonyi Kaycee (Uhunmwode), Addeh Isibor (Esan North-East I) and the deputy Majority Leader of the House, Sunday Aghedo (Ovia South-West), Donald Okogbe (Akoko-Edo II), Sunday Ojiezele (Esan South-East) and Eric Okaka (Owan East).
Hon. Addeh Isibor, the deputy Majority Leader is named Chairman for the Seven man ad-hoc committee for the Museum for West Africa Arts, MOWAA.
Also named as members are Andrew Uzamere (Ovia North-East II), Jonathan Ibhawamau (Esan West), Eugene Ojie Inegbeboh (Igueben), Lecky Hussein (Etsako West I), Richard Edosa (Oredo West) and Yekini Idiaye (Akoko-Edo I).
The committees were given one month each to submit their reports to the House.
It is on record that both projects were awarded by the Obaseki’s administration but are being scrutinized by the Okpebholo’s Government for allegedly inflated, and defining the State’s stake in them.
This is as the land MOWAA is built, has become contentious being part of Edo Central Hospital demolished for the project, by the Obaseki’s led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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