Okpebholo vows to prosecute those behind alleged shady deals in MOWAA project
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, has pledged to prosecute individuals implicated in alleged irregularities surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project.
The governor made the disclosure on Friday during a meeting with the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa, at the Government House in Benin.
Okpebholo expressed concern over suspicious changes to MOWAA’s registration details, reportedly made just six days before his swearing-in, as well as a general lack of transparency in the project’s management.
He assured that his administration would collaborate with the Federal Government, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders to address the controversy.
“I did not want to speak publicly on this matter again, but the time has come to state the facts. At the end of the day, there will be criminal prosecution.
”We are not fighting investors. Our duty is to protect Edo and, by extension, Nigeria. There will be no hiding place for criminals in our land,” the governor stated.
He also criticised the project for failing to notify the state government about the presence of expatriates invited for a Sunday commissioning ceremony, which he said further highlighted the lack of transparency in MOWAA’s operations.
In her remarks, Minister Musa-Musawa commended Edo State for its historic contributions to Nigeria’s cultural identity, praising the intellectual heritage of the people and the global significance of Benin’s cultural legacy.
She acknowledged that the Federal Government is aware of the issues surrounding MOWAA and promised a collaborative approach to resolving them.
The minister described the situation as “an original sin” that must be corrected to restore dignity to traditional institutions and protect Nigeria’s international cultural reputation.
The meeting was attended by key government officials, including the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru (SAN).
