After days of public hearings, the Edo State House of Assembly’s ad‑hoc committee investigating the MOWAA controversy has formally concluded its inquiry. The committee’s chairman confirmed that the final report will be submitted to the House for debate next week.
During the hearings, the state’s Accountant General, Julius Oseimen Anelu, disclosed that between March 2022 and April 2024, Edo State had released a total of ₦3.8 billion as its counterpart contribution to the MOWAA project.
The funds reportedly aimed at leveraging support from international donors, specifically a planned $18 million (then approximately ₦27 billion), but no record of external donor funds was found in public accounts. The Accountant General admitted that no vouchers, receipts, or confirmations were submitted to support the donor‑fund claim.
The committee also scrutinised payment vouchers: one was issued in favour of a private entity called Legacy Restoration Trust, and the other two to MOWAA. The revelations deepen long‑standing concerns about transparency and proper use of public funds in the management of the museum project.
Representatives of the Benin Royal Family speaking through traditional leadership channels accused the previous administration of “hijacking” the original Benin Royal Museum arrangement, rerouting it under MOWAA with a different identity and purpose. They demanded accountability and called for full restoration of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage assets to rightful custodians.
With the public hearings concluded despite MOWAA’s absence the committee now prepares its recommendations. Analysts expect the report to chart a path for restitution of disputed lands, reallocation of public funds, and possibly a full structural revamp of the museum project to restore public trust.
