The Edo State House of Assembly ad hoc committees set up to investigate the ownership of the Museum for West Africa Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu Hotel have made public their findings, recommending a complete takeover of the premises of both firms by the state government.

Chairmen of both committees, IbhamawuAigbokhan and Addeh Isibor, made the recommendations in Benin while addressing the House yesterday.

The duo said claims by the MOWAA’s management that it raised N37 billion was in direct contrast to the museum’s audited financial statement.

Addeh said the committee, in its recommendation, asked Governor Monday Okpebholo to take possession of the entire premises on which MOWAA is built since the state government funded the entire project.

Another recommendation, according to Addeh, was that the property remains that of the Central Hospital, as it was never revoked.

It said: “The Edo State Government should immediately take all steps to put the property to good use in the best and overriding public interest of the people.”

On his part, Ibhamawu said the committee recommended full and total control of the Radisson Hotel because it did not receive a kobo for the hotel.

He said the title to the hotel was never transferred from the Edo State Government to either the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) nor the Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC).

He said: “That the Edo State Government should contract competent hands to complete the renovation of the hotel and take all steps to put it to use for the benefit of the good people of Edo State, in particular, and the world in general.

“The Edo State Government should immediately revoke the fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) 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.