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Alleged N17 billion Fraud: Lagos lawmakers explain why Speaker Obasa was impeached
On Monday, Lagos State Speaker, Mudashir Obasa was impeached in a surprised move by members of the State Assembly.
It was initially unclear what led to the tsunami that flushed Obasa out of office, but facts began to emerge late on Monday that he was allegedly involved in N17 billion construction of the House of Assembly gate. An amount too humongous that drew the ire of members of the House.
Obasa who became Speaker of the House in 2015 has been in the eye of the storm bordering on corruption and money laundering, but has been surviving it until Monday. His many corruption allegations have been triggered by groups who petitioned and protested with no results in sight.
Few months, a go a group accused him of spending N17 billion to construct a gate that leads to the State House of Assembly.
The group operating under the aegis of Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition in December, 2024 demanded an investigation, but Obasa in his swift response described the allegation as spurious and funny of a group that was inexistent.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we spent N200 million on Thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this, when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared, and I don’t know why.”
CAPITAL POST reports that the Speaker has been put under inveetigation by his colleagues over the allegation among many other accusation which they have overlooked in the past ten years has been their leader.
Giving reasons later, members of the Assembly stated that he was impeached and removed from office over misconduct and abuse of office, though there was another twist to the development that he was involved in power play with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The move comes amid reports of a power struggle with Governor Sanwo-Olu. Lawmakers wasted no time in appointing
The embattled ex-Speaker represents Agege Constituency 1 in the Assembly since 2007 and has been the speaker since 2015.
A member of the State Assembly, Hon. Abiodun Tobun, in a press interview, who was flanked by other members told the media that the impeachment was necessary in order to save the image of the parliament and maintain the ethical standards of the legislative house.
Abiodun who represents Epe Constituency 1, said they decided to unanimously “change the leadership of the house” in line with the constitution because they “felt they have had enough” of Mr Obasa as speaker, adding that the development was a resolution by all members of the House over the weekend.
He added that all the principal positions and standing committees which were products of the former Speaker have been dissolved to pave way for new ones by the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda who was immediately voted into office.
Mojisola Meranda was not found culpable in the alleged corruption and misconduct, hence, the female lawmaker was spared, according to insider source.
Obasa’s Deputy, Meranda presided over the plenary that removed him from seat on Monday as the former Speaker was believed to have travelled out of the country.
Inside the Chambers on Monday, member representing Kosofe State Constituency, Femi Saheed, moved the motion for impeachment of Mudashir Obasa, citing misappropriation of funds, poor leadership and abuse of office.
He said: “I hereby move that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, be removed as speaker of this House for gross misconduct and poor leadership, including highhandedness and disregard for honourable members of the House of Assembly,” he said.
The lawmaker also accused him of “intimidation and suppression of and inciting members against one another…mismanagement of funds and lack of time transparency in his management of the House of Assembly funds.”
He accused Mr Obasa of abusing his position and its privileges.
Mr Saheed also described Mr Obasa’s leadership style as “authoritarian and undemocratic.”
The motion was unopposed, and all the lawmakers present supported it. The exact number of lawmakers present during Monday’s sitting could not be established as of the time of this report.
Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Jibrin Isah Echocho, has congratulated Muslim faithful for the successful completion of this year Ramadan fast, urging them to celebrate the Sallah in love, and unity across our communities.
Echocho in a statement madeavailable to CAPITALPOST in Lokoja o Sunday, described the Ramadan period as stressful, but deserving, because it is the only period for spiritual reflection on abstinence from immorality, sincere sacrifice and supplications to Allah.
He added that, Ramadan symbolises Allah’s way of teaching humanity on virtuous living, where people keep away from all forms of comfort to appreciate what the less privileged experience and deprivation they suffers daily.
He task Muslims to extend the lessons of Ramadan to the way we live with our neighbours.
“Let’s seek peace at all times and promote unity of purpose in our society” the Lawmaker demanded.
“May the celebration brings sustainable peace to our homes, my district, Kogi State and Nigeria, he concluded.
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has commended Senator Basheer Lado, for redefining the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, stating that, for the first time in a long while, the office is fully meeting its expectations.
Speaking during his visit to the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters accompanied by distinguished senators, Akpabio described the visit as a significant step in strengthening Executive-Legislative relations.
He praised the Special Adviser and his team for maintaining the confidentiality of communications between the President and Senate, and also, ensuring a seamless flow of information. He further emphasized that the office is now more result-oriented.
Additionally, he acknowledged the office’s diligent efforts in tracking all Bills passed by the Senate and assented to by the President, underscoring its critical role in legislative efficiency.
Expressing his satisfaction, Akpabio noted that he and the Senate delegation were proud of the office’s achievements and looked forward to sustaining the existing cordial and productive relationship between the Executive and the Legislature throughout the administration.
In recognition of his exemplary leadership, Senator Lado presented an Award of Excellence to Senator Akpabio.
In his remarks, Senator Lado reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. He lauded Akpabio for his unwavering dedication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—defending it with clarity, articulating it with passion, and advancing it through legislative action.
Ahead of the 2025 political party Congresses, Plateau State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) stakeholders has endorsed the defection of the candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections and the leader of Justice and Rebirth, Barr Gyang Zi SAN, to the All Progressive Congress (APC) with the view to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
They made the call in a communique issued at the end of the enlarge meeting of the stakeholders from Plateau North senatorial zone at the residence of Barr. Gyang Zi in Rayfield Jos.
The communique which was jointly signed by Dr. Ayiki Sati Director General, Justice and Rebirth and
Barr. Samuel Galadima- 2024 Chairmanship candidate of Jos East LGA among others said the call became imperative on the sideline of the leadership tussle at the National Level which violates the core principles and values for the formation of the Party as an alternative for Nigeria for the protection, sustenance of democracy and Social Justice.
They regretted that the leadership tussle has also divided the party into factions leaving party loyalists and supporters in the state of despondency and confusion not knowing where they belong.
Our correspondent reports that the gathering included LP candidates from the 2023/2024 general elections, party executives, and support groups from the six local government areas of the Northern Senatorial District.
Besides, the focus of the discussions was centered on the state of the Labour Party at both national and state levels and the need for political realignment ahead of the 2025 party congresses and conventions.
The stakeholders further frowned at the structural weaknesses in LP and resolved to advise Barr Gyang Zi, to leave the party and join the APC while expressing confidence that the APC would provide him with a platform to advance good governance in the state .
The communique also emphasized the importance of political consultations, particularly with APC leaders at both state and national levels. It called for collaboration with Plateau State APC leaders, including Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, Sen. Simon Bako Lalong, Sen. Diket Plang, and other party officials.
According to the communique, supporters of Barr Gyang Zi also pledged to mobilize grassroots support for the APC, stating that their leader’s defection would strengthen the party in the state.
They urged the APC leadership to formally receive Gyang Zi and his supporters into the party, marking their official transition from the Labour Party.
Stakeholders also reiterated the need for inclusive governance, ensuring that youths, women, and less privileged individuals are sidelined in the democratic process and accordingly officially denounced their membership in the Labour Party, declaring their support for the APC.
They assured that all LP structures aligned with Gyang Zi would follow suit, shifting their loyalty to the ruling party in the state and at the National level.
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