Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has issued a stern warning that criminal charges may arise from the ongoing controversy surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project.
He delivered the message on Friday while receiving the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, during her courtesy call at the Government House in Benin City. The remarks were contained in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua.
“I didn’t want to speak publicly on this again, but the time has come to state the facts,” Okpebholo declared.
“At the end of the day, there will be criminal prosecution on this matter. We are not fighting investors.
“Our duty is to protect Edo State and, by extension, Nigeria. There will be no hiding place for criminals in our land,” he added.
The governor underscored that his administration remains firmly anchored on transparency, accountability and strong institutions, insisting that the unfolding issues around the museum raise serious governance concerns. He reiterated that while Edo welcomes genuine investment, the state will not hesitate to prosecute anyone found culpable.
Okpebholo lamented that his administration had been kept in the dark over vital developments relating to the project—including the arrival of foreign representatives for what he described as a questionable commissioning event. He said documents in the government’s possession “indicated major changes to MOWAA’s registration details, made just six days before his swearing-in, describing the action as suspicious and deeply troubling”.
He further disclosed that the state was never informed about expatriates who arrived for a scheduled Sunday commissioning, a development he said reinforced the opacity that has surrounded the project from the outset.
The meeting also had in attendance senior officials of the state government, such as the Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku; Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilo; Chief of Staff, Mallam Gani Audu; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru, SAN; and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua.
Okpebholo reaffirmed that his government will safeguard the state’s integrity, uphold the rule of law, and collaborate with the Federal Government, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to ensure a credible, transparent outcome in the MOWAA matter and similar cases affecting Edo.
Earlier in the week, the governor had criticised what he described as a pattern of secrecy around the project. “The controversy surrounding MOWAA stems from the lack of openness by the previous government,” he said in a statement issued Monday.
“It is curious how the project evolved from the Benin Royal Museum to the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA), and now to the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), without clarity or consultation with our revered traditional institution,” he told a delegation of European diplomats, including EU Ambassador to Nigeria Gautier Mignot and German Ambassador Annett Günther.
But his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, dismissed the allegations, insisting the governor’s claims were misleading.
What You Should Know
The dispute over the Museum of West African Art has intensified political tensions in Edo State, with Governor Monday Okpebholo alleging secrecy, questionable administrative changes and a lack of consultation in the project’s evolution.
His warnings of possible criminal prosecution reflect growing concerns about governance lapses and transparency issues tied to the museum’s development. Foreign delegations, shifting registration details and strained relations with the previous administration have added further complexity.
While Okpebholo pledges institutional integrity and collaboration with federal and traditional bodies, former governor Godwin Obaseki has rejected the claims, setting the stage for a prolonged political and legal confrontation.
