New information has come to light regarding the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
On Monday, lawmakers voted unanimously to remove him from office over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of authority, and financial mismanagement throughout his tenure, which spanned over a decade.
The impeachment session was marked by heightened security and tense deliberations at the Assembly complex.
As reported by Politics Nigeria, Lawmakers accused Obasa of repeatedly arriving late to legislative sittings, adopting an authoritarian leadership style, and failing to ensure transparency in managing the Assembly’s finances.
Other allegations included fostering division among members and abusing his position for personal gains.
The motion for impeachment, raised by Femi Saheed under a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, criticized Obasa’s leadership as harmful to the Assembly’s reputation. With the support of 32 lawmakers, the motion was passed, sealing his removal.
Lagos Assembly Welcomes First Female Speaker
Following Obasa’s impeachment, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda of Apapa Constituency I was elected as the new Speaker, making history as the first woman to occupy the role in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Fatai Mojeed was elected as Deputy Speaker, while Olalekan Onafeko, a suspended ally of Obasa, was replaced by Abubakar Ottun as Acting Clerk.
Tight Security and Alleged Interference
Security around the Assembly was reinforced during the session, with personnel from the Rapid Response Squad, Lagos Task Force, and state police on site. Reports indicate that loyalists of the former Speaker attempted to disrupt proceedings. Authorities made several arrests, with charms allegedly recovered from the suspects.
Financial Allegations Lead to Impeachment
The impeachment was largely driven by accusations of financial irregularities. Investigations revealed that between 2023 and 2024, over ₦44 billion allocated for vehicles and projects had not been properly accounted for. In 2023, ₦30.19 billion was reportedly earmarked for official vehicles, but none were procured, while in 2024, ₦13.33 billion allocated for similar purposes showed minimal results.
Additional expenditures under Obasa’s leadership included ₦1.1 billion for properties in 2023 and ₦126 million for Abuja properties in 2024, sparking public criticism over their necessity. Funds totaling ₦15.65 billion were also allocated for office construction during the same period, despite claims that existing facilities were adequate.
Obasa Responds to Allegations
Obasa has consistently denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated attempts to tarnish his image ahead of the 2027 elections. He dismissed reports of reckless spending, such as claims that ₦17 billion was spent on a gate project or ₦200 million on a Thanksgiving service.
“How much is the Assembly’s entire yearly allocation that we would spend ₦17 billion on a gate? These are baseless accusations intended to discredit me,” Obasa stated, attributing the allegations to fear of his political influence.
As the Lagos State House of Assembly transitions to new leadership, many await how these changes will impact governance and accountability in the state.
Meanwhile, following the impeachment of the embattled Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, officials of the complex have removed the portrait of Mudashiru Obasa.
In a viral video circulating inky a man wearing a blue caftan and a face cap was seen removing Obasa’s portrait from the wall.
While the man removed the portrait, he was being cheered by some people in the background.
However, the short video did not show whether his portrait was immediately replaced with that of the new Lagos State Speaker, Mojisola Metanda.
Also, Shehu Sani, former Senator for Kaduna Central, offered insights into the typical factors that lead to the removal of a Speaker in Nigeria. Obasa was replaced by his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, shortly after the impeachment.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sani shared his reflections based on his political experience since 1999. He explained that the impeachment of a Speaker is often driven by several crucial factors.
A common cause is when there is suspicion that the Speaker may be planning an impeachment of the governor. Additionally, a Speaker who becomes increasingly independent and resists following the governor’s directives may face removal.
Another contributing factor is the Speaker’s failure to maintain the welfare of other lawmakers, leaving them feeling neglected or dissatisfied.
Furthermore, when a Speaker deliberately obstructs or delays the passage of bills that are important to the governor, or is accused of aligning with political adversaries of the governor, it can also prompt impeachment.
Sani’s observations shed light on the complex political dynamics that can influence leadership changes in legislative bodies in Nigeria.
Supporters of Mudashiru Obasa, caused a stir by chanting the party anthem “On Your Mandate” while being held in a police van.
Following the impeachment, a group of men who were reportedly gathered near the Assembly complex were detained by the police.
In a viral video, the men, speaking through the van’s window, identified themselves as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Agege Constituency.
One of the detained men explained, “We came to visit Obasa at the Assembly, and we were arrested. No clear reason was given for our detention. We are around 20 people from Orile Agege, and we are APC youths.”
The supporters continued chanting their party anthem despite being in police custody.
