The Edo State Home of Meeting has issued a stern warning to former governor Godwin Obaseki for declining to look earlier than its Advert hoc Committee investigating the alleged N31.8 billion tie-up involving the Museum of West African Artwork (MOWAA) and the Radisson Resort undertaking.
The Meeting committee mentioned it has the authority to ask police to compel attendance.
At a resumed session of the committee, Obaseki together with a number of former officers and company figures submitted letters by way of their legal professionals refusing the summons.
They pointed to ongoing courtroom proceedings regarding MOWAA as justification for his or her absence.
The committee chair, Addeh Isibor, voiced disappointment. He argued the listening to is fact-finding, not a witch-hunt.
He rejected the justifications as legally baseless and warned that the mere existence of a courtroom case doesn’t mechanically bar the committee from functioning.
“These people have unilaterally chosen to remain away,” Isibor mentioned. “No courtroom order earlier than us prevents this listening to. They can not later declare denial of truthful listening to,” he added.
He accused those that skipped the session of submitting last-minute courtroom fits to derail the probe.
The committee emphasised it stays empowered by the structure to analyze any matter involving appropriation of public funds.
If summoned individuals proceed to refuse, the Meeting is not going to hesitate to request police intervention.
In associated developments, the probe ordered by sitting governor Monday Okpebholo seeks readability over N3.8 billion allegedly invested by the state in MOWAA, and an additional N28 billion related to the Radisson Resort undertaking.
A number of high-profile names have been invited alongside Obaseki, together with a former finance commissioner, ex-attorney normal, and managing administrators of a number of funding corporations and trustees.
In the meantime, the committee reaffirmed its dedication to compiling a report grounded solely in proof. It vowed to press on till all related points are resolved, no matter who turns up.