By Ozioruva Aliu
Nine months after Governor Monday Okpebholo set up a six man committee headed by Sen Adams Oshiomhole to investigate the controversies that have trailed the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA), the committee has recommended that the facility should be given to the palace of the Oba of Benin to manage because the original plan was for the government to support the building of a befitting museum to house returned artefacts.
The committee also said that the museum experienced multiple changes of name to surreptitiously convert the facility into a private concern despite the Edo State government spending about N3.8 billion for the project.
Recall that the planned opening of the museum was disrupted in November last year due to the allegation that the true ownership of the museum was unknown and other controversies that greeted the project.
Okpebholo then set up the committee headed by Oshiomhole and other members including General Cecil Esekhaigbe (Rtd.) as Vice Chairman, H.E. Lucky Imasuen, member, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, member, Professor Roland Itoyah Otaru, SAN, member and Barr. Iryn Omorogiuwa, Secretary.
