The Edo State House of Assembly ad hoc committee, mandated to investigate two controversial state projects, issued a dramatic warning on Thursday, asserting its constitutional authority to issue an arrest warrant for former Governor Godwin Obaseki and compel his appearance. The former governor has repeatedly declined to appear before the panel.

The committee was constituted following a request by the current administration under Governor Monday Okpebholo to probe the funding, ownership, and financial scope of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and the Radisson Hotel projects. The probe is scrutinizing the state’s substantial investment, which includes N3.8bn in MOWAA and N28bn in the Radisson Hotel.

The former governor, alongside other key officials, was invited to testify. However, the committee’s Chairman, Addeh Isibor, revealed at a resumed sitting that Obaseki and others had submitted letters through their legal representatives, citing various lawsuits as justification for their refusal to attend. Specifically, Obaseki cited lawsuits filed in various courts against MOWAA as justification for not attending. Management of MOWAA had also previously declined to appear.

Angered by the stonewalling, Isibor stressed that the committee was engaged in a fact-finding mission, not a witch-hunt, and insisted its final report would be based strictly on verifiable facts. He strongly condemned the legal tactics employed to obstruct the investigation.

“These gentlemen have unilaterally chosen to absent themselves, citing court cases regarding our sitting or issues under consideration,” Isibor stated. “We know the position of the law. We are not dunces but cerebral people. We are constitutionally mandated to carry out investigations or hearings on any matter to which we have the power of appropriation.”

Isibor dismissed the legal challenges as baseless attempts to delay justice. “The mere filing of a suit in court cannot amount to a stay of proceedings. They ran to court after we commenced the public hearing,” he said, delivering a sharp rebuke to the judiciary. “No judge can stop our sitting. We will reach a decision on the matter. If you choose not to make yourself available, you cannot claim you were refused the right to a fair hearing.”

The Chairman reserved particular outrage for the legal strategy, noting the lack of procedural compliance. “It is more offensive that none of the SANs attached court processes to the letters. They know they rushed to court at midnight. These are empty letters. They want to stop this committee from getting to the root of the matter.”

Isibor concluded by decisively rejecting the attempts to derail the probe and reiterated the full force of the legislative body’s power.

“We reject the letters as lacking in merit. The Edo Assembly is not a party to the suit. The committee has the power to ask the police to bring those concerned here,” he warned. “We have no letter stopping the committee from completing its assignment.”

Besides Obaseki, others invited for questioning included former finance commissioner Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney General Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, and managing directors from Tilbury House Nigeria Limited, Hospitality Investment and Management Company, Afrinvest Capital Limited, Meristem Trustees Limited, and Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.

This probe follows the chaotic incident on November 9, 2025, when an exhibition at the MOWAA museum turned violent. Angry protesters stormed the venue, forcing the abrupt shutdown of a high-profile event attended by foreign dignitaries, including ambassadors from the European Union and Germany, who were reportedly trapped and evacuated under tight security.