Edo State House of Assembly Ad hoc Committee constituted to investigate the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and Radisson Hotel on Thursday threatened to issue an arrest warrant on former Governor Godwin Obaseki for refusing to appear before it.

The Committee was constituted following a request by Governor Monday Okpebholo to probe funding and ownership of the projects including the extent of the state government N3.8bn investment in MOWAA and N28bn in Radisson Hotel.

But the Committee said it has powers to ask the Police to bring any individual before it to answer questions.

Other persons, besides Obaseki, that were invited by the Committee were a former Edo Finance Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney General of Edo State, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Managing Director, Tilbury House Nigeria Limited, Mr. Pramod Thorat, Project Manager of Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC) Mr. Ugochukwu Anigbogu, Managing Director, Afrinvest Capital Limited, Managing Director, Meristem Trustees Limited and Managing Director, Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.

READ ALSO:MOWAA: Why I Will Not Appear Before Edo Assembly Panel — Obaseki

It said those declining to appear before it could not claim they were refused right to fair hearing.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon Addeh Isibor, who spoke at the resumed sitting of the Committee, said Obaseki and others sent letters through their lawyers stating reasons why they declined the Committee’s invitation.

He said Obaseki cited lawsuit filed in various courts against MOWAA as reasons for his absence.

Peeved at the action of Obaseki and others, Hon Isibor said the Committee was on a fact finding and not to witch-hunt anybody.

He insisted that the Committee would submit its report based on fact.

READ ALSO:Edo Assembly Invites Obaseki, Others For Questioning Over MOWAA

According to him, “These gentlemen have unilaterally chosen to absent themselves that there exist court cases regarding our sitting or issues under consideration.

“We know the position of the law. We are not dunces but cerebral people. We are constitutionally mandated to carry out investigation or hearing on any matter to which we have the power of appropriation.

“The mere filing of a suit in court cannot amount to stay of proceeding. They ran to court after we commenced the public hearing.

“No judge can stop our sitting. We will reach a decision on the matter. If you choose not to make yourself available, you cannot claim you were refused right to fair hearing.

READ ALSO:MOWAA Authorities Shun Edo Assembly Committee, Give Reason

“It is more offensive that none of the SANs attached court processes to the letters. They know they rushed to court at midnight. These are empty letters.

“They want to stop this Committee from getting to the root of the matter. We reject the letters as lacking in merit. Edo Assembly is not a party to the suit.

“The Committee has powers to ask the Police to bring those concerns here. We have no letter stopping the Committee from completing its assignment.”

Two suspected kidnappers have been killed by the operatives of Agwa Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Imo State Police Command.

According to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, who briefed newsmen at its headquarters in Owerri, the deceased kidnappers were gunned down as the Agwa Division officers engaged their gang while on routine patrol along Obudi–Mgbala Road on Tuesday.

Okoye disclosed that while other gang members fled with injuries, two pump-action rifles, seven live cartridges, and two Android phones were recovered from the suspects. The officers rescued a yet-to-be-identified female victim, who later died in an undisclosed hospital while receiving treatment.

Okoye said, “The Imo State Police Command has recorded notable successes in its ongoing operations against kidnapping and violent crimes across the State.

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“On 02/12/2025 at about 2022hrs, operatives of Agwa Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Agwa, while on patrol along Obudi–Mgbala Road, engaged a gang of kidnappers using a white Keke bus, Reg. No. EHM 542 XL.

“Two of the suspects were neutralised, while others fled with injuries. Recovered items include two pump-action rifles, seven live cartridges, two Android phones, and the body of an unidentified female victim. The recovered items and bodies have been deposited at the mortuary as investigation continues.

“In another development, on the same date at about 1800hrs, operatives of Nekede Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Nekede Division, acting on credible intelligence, raided Umuezeruokam Forest linking Avu Forest.

“The operation led to the arrest of twelve (12) suspects and the recovery of twelve (12) phones, two daggers, one cutlass, assorted hard drugs, one saw blade, and one bunch of arrows. The case has been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for further investigation.

READ ALSO:Bauchi Records 75 Homicide Cases, 28 Kidnapping Cases, Others – Official

“The Commissioner of Police assures residents of sustained efforts to eliminate criminal elements and maintain public safety,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a move that is mounting security concerns as the Christmas and New Year festivities approach, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has issued a stern reminder that the long-standing ban on fireworks remains in full force and will be enforced with zero tolerance.

The directive, contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, signals a renewed clampdown on the use, sale, storage, and public display of all pyrotechnic devices, including popular but notorious items such as knock-outs and bangers.

According to the command, the decision is part of broader measures to forestall crime during the festive period, arguing that fireworks often provide convenient cover for criminal elements to unleash attacks, cause panic, or evade detection.

“Experience shows that criminally minded persons can take advantage of fireworks to unleash terror on law-abiding residents,” Edafe stated, stressing that the ban is not merely seasonal but an essential security protocol.

President Bola Tinubu has submitted a fresh list of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

The nominees announced during Thursday’s plenary include the immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State and former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; former Imo State First Lady, Chioma Ohakim; and former Minister of Interior and former Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letter on the floor of the chamber, in which Tinubu requested expedited consideration to facilitate the filling of vacant diplomatic posts.

Akpabio referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and directed the committee to screen the nominees and submit its report within one week.

READ ALSO:NUC Gets €3m Loan To Start ICT Projects In Varsities

Recall that Tinubu, less than a week ago, submitted 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, expanding on the earlier list of three announced. The list, released in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, comprises 15 career and 17 non-career nominees.

The nominees include former Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Mahmud Yakubu, and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri. Others on the non-career list are former Ekiti State First Lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo; former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Lagos Deputy Governor, Otunba Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode; and former Oyo State First Lady, Florence Ajimobi.

The statement urged the Senate President, Akpabio, to “do quick to consider and confirm them”, noting that nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains significant bilateral relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa and Kenya. Others will be assigned to Nigeria’s permanent missions to the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union. Posting details will be released after Senate confirmation.

The list includes ten women—four career and six non-career nominees—and features former governors, former ministers, former commissioners and former senators.

READ ALSO:Tinubu Appoints Non-Career Ambassadors For US, UK, France

Non-career nominees include Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu; Reno Omokri; Mahmood Yakubu; Erelu Angela Adebayo; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Tasiu Musa Maigari; Yakubu N. Gambo; Professor Nora Ladi Daduut; Otunba Femi Pedro; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu; Fatima Florence Ajimobi; Lola Akande; Grace Bent; Victor Okezie Ikpeazu; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim; and Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu.

Career ambassadors and high commissioner–designates are Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia); Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba); Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa); Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi); Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa); Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi); Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun); Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo); Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo); Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger); Shehu Barde (Katsina); Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno); Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna); Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara); and Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).

Ambassadors serve as the President’s representatives abroad and are responsible for overseeing Nigeria’s activities in their host countries. Career ambassadors are trained diplomats with professional experience in the Foreign Service, while non-career ambassadors are appointed for political or strategic reasons, often based on the expertise they bring rather than prior diplomatic training.

President Tinubu at the time indicated that more ambassadorial nominations will follow.