- Former Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Obasa was removed over fraud allegations.
- The Lagos Assembly plans to probe Obasa upon his return.
- New Speaker Mojisola Meranda has assumed office amidst heightened security.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has disclosed plans to investigate allegations of fraud against its former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, upon his resumption to the Assembly.
The House spokesperson, Olukayode Ogundipe, revealed this in an exclusive interview with Punch on Monday at the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Ogundipe stated, “Once he is physically present, the allegations against him will be addressed. There are reports of funds mismanagement, and while the sources of these records remain unclear, the ones within our knowledge will be reviewed when he is seated with us.”
He hinted at the possibility of forming a committee to examine the allegations or involving the leadership of the Assembly to ensure due process is followed. When asked about submitting a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ogundipe noted that the Assembly would decide its next steps in due time.
Obasa, who was removed as Speaker on January 13, 2025, over allegations of misconduct and financial misappropriation, has refuted the claims, labeling his removal as unprocedural. “If you want to claim that I’m corrupt, please prove it,” he told supporters at the Speaker’s Lodge on Saturday.
Despite Obasa’s stance, Ogundipe maintained that the former Speaker’s removal adhered to constitutional procedures. “The process of his removal was constitutional and duly followed. We intended to change leadership, and that’s what we did,” he said.
Security at the Assembly complex was intensified on Monday, with personnel screening individuals, including journalists, entering the premises. The heightened measures follow Obasa’s insistence that he remains Speaker until the proper process is used to remove him.
Meanwhile, the newly elected Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, officially assumed office on Monday, supported by lawmakers. Ogundipe clarified that Monday’s plenary was rescheduled to allow members to settle and demonstrate that the Assembly remains calm.
Obasa is yet to appear at the Assembly.
