The Lagos State House of Assembly has tightened security at the Assembly Complex as lawmakers get set to hold plenary on Monday (today), 27th of January.
There are however, fears that there might be a showdown at the House as the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, on Saturday claimed he remained the Speaker of the House.
Obasa was removed by the majority of House members on January 13, 2025, following allegations of misconduct and financial misappropriation. He was subsequently replaced by the Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Today’s plenary will be the third session presided over by Meranda since Obasa’s removal, with the former speaker absent at the last two sittings.
Speaking on Saturday, Obasa who had been outside Lagos since the saga at the House, said he still remained the speaker, and asked the lawmakers to follow the “right way” to remove him from office.
The former speaker also denied the allegations of corruption brought against him by the lawmakers during his removal, describing the alleged financial misappropriations as “impossible.”
Responding to questions from newsmen shortly after he addressed his supporters, Obasa insisted that he remained the Speaker.
“My status in the house? I believe strongly I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done. If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it.
“I’m a Muslim and I believe in fate. But let’s do it the way it should be done.”
When asked if a legal battle was in the offing, Obasa responded, “You will know. It’s a matter of time.”
Obasa also spoke to a huge crowd of supporters at the Speaker’s Lodge, 47, GRA Ikeja Lagos.
He said, “I thank you for your support and dedication. I will take this advantage to debunk the allegations that were circulated and raised about me.
“Is it possible to construct an ordinary gate with N16 billion? It is not the wall of Jericho or the wall that demarcated the United States of America and Mexico.
“How can they say we bought one Hilux bus for N1 billion each and that we bought 40 pieces for N40 billion? I am not disturbed or perturbed and I am not afraid. I will debunk all the allegations levelled against me by the House.
“I have not done anything wrong. I have been a lawmaker for over two decades and I am the longest-serving lawmaker in the House.”
In a notice issued from the acting Clerk’s office on Sunday, staff members and legislative aides were advised to come to the complex with a means of identification.
The notice said anyone without a valid ID would be denied entry into the assembly premises.
“Regarding management directives, all staff members and legislative aides must present valid identity cards to access the House premises. Please remember that entry will be denied to anyone without a valid identity card,” the short notice read.
Police pledge peace
The Lagos State Police Command has also said it will maintain order in the state irrespective of what transpires at the assembly on Monday.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ishola Olawale, in an interview with the Punch on Sunday, said as much as the police had no business inside the assembly, it was his duty to maintain the calmness outside the assembly and everywhere in the state.
According to him, there won’t be any breakdown of law and order in the state. “That will not happen. I don’t see any breakdown of law in the state and if there is, it is inside the assembly and I am not allowed to enter the assembly. But outside the assembly, there won’t be any breakdown of law and order in Lagos State, in whatever location because that’s my job as a policeman.”
He added, “People will genuinely move about with their businesses, but anybody congregating anywhere to foment trouble will be decisively dispersed, and if they don’t (cooperate), they will be arrested if they conduct themselves in an unruly manner. Everyone has the right to assembly but there is also what we call law and order.”
The police also denied invading the residence of the former Speaker.
Obasa had on Saturday accused the Lagos CP of leading policemen to invade the Assembly and his residence on the day of his removal.
He alleged that over 200 policemen invaded his residences in the Agege area of the state and at the GRA, blocking the gate and preventing members of his family from going out of the house.
“My children did not sleep in this house on that day because they were locked out, and my wife kept inside — house arrest,” Obasa said while addressing a crowd of supporters at the Speaker’s Lodge, 47, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
But the CP stated that Obasa’s claim could be easily investigated from the residents without even hearing from him.
“The man lives within an estate, so that means before you get to his house, you must have breached the gate of that estate. There are gatemen in the estate, why don’t you find out? 200 policemen? How many policemen do I have? Have you asked that question?” the CP queried.
Ishola also said the police had no business at the assembly as they were not authorised to be in the hallowed chambers.
“Whatever happens there (in the assembly) has nothing to do with the police. They have ways they check themselves in and I don’t believe anybody who has no business inside the assembly is allowed in. They have their sergeants at hand who coordinate the conduct of the assembly.
“The law does not permit me to supervise or even intervene in what happens inside the assembly. It has nothing to do with me as a policeman,” the CP added.
According to him, Lagos is calm and “it’s my job to keep it calm and that’s what I’m going to do, that’s what I’m doing.”
Meanwhile, Obasa and the Governor’s Advisory Council are reportedly scheduled to meet with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday to find a solution to the current impasse.