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Mudashiru Obasa, the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has spoken out for the first time since his removal, insisting that the process was unconstitutional.
He addressed a crowd of supporters at the Speaker’s Lodge in Ikeja, Lagos, on Saturday, where he denied allegations of corruption and misconduct that led to his ousting.
Obasa, who was in the United States when he was removed on January 13, argued that the lawmakers did not follow the proper constitutional procedure in his removal.
“I have been a lawmaker for over two decades, and I am the longest-serving member in the House,” he stated. “I am not afraid to be removed, but it must be done the right way, in line with the Constitution.”
He also addressed the specific allegations of corruption.
“Is it possible to build a gate with N16bn? How can they say we bought one Hilux bus for N1bn and that we bought 40 of them for N40bn?
These claims are absurd,” Obasa said, emphasising that he had done nothing wrong.
Obasa accused the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Ishola Olawale, of leading an invasion of the Assembly on the day of his removal, adding that over 200 policemen had blocked his residence in Agege, preventing his family from leaving.
“My children were locked out, and my wife was kept in the house under house arrest. This is not right,” he said.
Despite these claims, Obasa stressed that he had no personal grievances with the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, or the Governance Advisory Council.
“If they want to remove me, let them do it the proper way,” he insisted, reiterating that he believed in the constitutional process.
When asked if he would seek legal action, Obasa hinted that a legal challenge was possible, saying, “You will know. It’s a matter of time.”
In response, the Lagos State House of Assembly issued a statement rejecting Obasa’s claims, asserting that over two-thirds of its members supported his removal and the election of Mojisola Meranda as the new speaker.
“The position of the House remains the same,” read the statement. “The actions of the former speaker are uncalled for and unparliamentary. We urge him to pursue peace and harmony, as any attempt to cause unrest will be resisted by the majority of members.”
The state’s police commissioner, Ishola Olawale, declined to comment on the allegations made by Obasa, directing reporters to “go to town” and investigate the issue further.
However, he did not offer a direct response to the claims.
Meanwhile, Seun Soyinka, Publicity Secretary of the APC in Lagos, emphasised that the party had no involvement in the internal matters of the Assembly.
“The election of the Speaker is strictly an internal affair of the House. The party respects the autonomy of the Assembly,” Soyinka stated.
Political analyst Professor Hassan Saliu weighed in on Obasa’s situation, suggesting that his future largely depends on the political dynamics in Lagos.
“Obasa cannot install himself back to the seat. It depends on the powerful forces in Lagos politics,” Saliu said.
He also pointed out that the process of removing speakers in Nigeria is often too easy and needs to be revisited to prevent political manoeuvring.
Legal expert Malachy Ugwummadu added that, while Obasa’s removal may have followed political intervention, the former speaker still had the right to challenge the decision legally.
“If the removal was regular, then it stands, but Obasa can protest his right under the law,” Ugwummadu said.
He further cautioned that a legal challenge might not necessarily lead to success but stressed the importance of focusing on the interests of the people.
