The Edo State House of Assembly ad hoc committees investigating the legal, financial, administrative, and ownership status of the Radisson Hotel and the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) have recommended that the state government take full control of the properties, citing multiple irregularities in their acquisition processes.

The committees made the recommendation while presenting their final reports at a press briefing on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Benin City.

The reports were jointly presented by Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbonkhai, chairman of the Radisson Hotel investigative committee, and Addeh Emankhu Isibor, chairman of the MOWAA committee.

Presenting the findings on the Radisson Hotel, Aigbonkhai, who is also the Majority Leader of the House, said investigations revealed that the Edo State Government purchased the hotel for N2 billion on December 23, 2021, during the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

According to him, the Certificate of Occupancy issued in the name of Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC) was illegal because the company did not purchase the hotel.

He added that there was no documentation showing that the Edo State Government transferred ownership of the hotel to HIMC, a limited liability company.

The committee also found that there was no resolution from either the Edo State Executive Council or the House of Assembly approving the transfer of ownership of the hotel from the state government to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) or to HIMC.

Aigbonkhai stated that ownership of the hotel remains with the Edo State Government and was never legally transferred to MOFI or HIMC.

He further noted that agreements entered into regarding the hotel that attempted to establish ownership through the purchase of HIMC shares were invalid, since HIMC was not the legal owner of the property.

The committee also alleged that Fidelis Imiebiakhe, who signed the share purchase agreement on behalf of the Ministry of Finance as a director, was neither a staff member of the ministry nor listed in the Edo State Government’s staff records.

It added that none of the alleged N10 billion involved in the transaction was paid to the Edo State Government, which it described as a violation of constitutional provisions.

According to the report, the transaction also lacked approval from the State Executive Council and the House of Assembly.

The committee further alleged that former Governor Obaseki breached conflict-of-interest provisions by appointing his own company, Afri Invest Capital, as financial advisers to the transaction, while his associate and business partner, Asue Ighodalo of Banwo & Ighodalo, served as legal advisers.

Based on its findings, the committee recommended that the Edo State Government immediately retake full control of the hotel, noting that the state did not receive any payment for the property and that ownership was never legally transferred to either MOFI or HIMC.

It also advised the government to engage competent professionals to complete the renovation of the hotel and ensure it is put to use for the benefit of the people of Edo State and the public at large.

The committee further recommended the immediate revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy issued to Hospitality Investment and Management Company Limited and the restoration of the title to the Edo State Government.

In addition, it called on the state government to initiate legal action and collaborate with relevant anti-corruption agencies to recover the balance of N17.5 billion allegedly still held by escrow agents, Meristem Trustees Limited and Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.

Meanwhile, presenting the findings on the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), committee chairman Addeh Emankhu Isibor directed the state government to take full possession of both the land and the building housing the museum, stating that the project was entirely funded by the Edo State Government.

Isibor, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, said the committee determined that the land on which the museum stands legally remains the property of Central Hospital, Benin City, as its title was never revoked.

He recommended that the government take all necessary steps to ensure the property is put to use in the best public interest of Edo residents.

According to the committee’s findings, the title of Central Hospital, Benin City, was not revoked in accordance with the Land Use Act before Certificates of Occupancy were issued first to Legacy Restoration Trust and later to MOWAA.

The investigation also found that the Edo State Government solely provided the N3.85 billion used to construct and develop the MOWAA Institute and Pavilion, with no evidence of financial contributions from other donors.

The committee further stated that MOWAA failed to provide proof of receiving donations from either foreign or local donors, as reflected in the organisation’s audited financial statements prepared by Ernst & Young over a four-year period.

It also alleged a conflict of interest, noting that Philip Iheanacho, a director of MOWAA, had a longstanding business relationship with former Governor Obaseki, with both men having co-founded Afri Invest West Africa Limited and Afri Invest Capital Limited.

The report stated that neither Obaseki nor Iheanacho disclosed their business relationship to the State Executive Council or the House of Assembly before the former governor approved the transfer of N3.85 billion in state funds and attempted to transfer 6.210 hectares of land belonging to Central Hospital to Iheanacho.

The committee further noted that MOWAA did not pay for the land or the statutory fees required for the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy.

It also questioned claims by MOWAA that it raised between $18 million and $25 million (or between N27 billion and N38 billion) from foreign donors, noting that the figures were inconsistent with the organisation’s audited financial statements.