The Ex-Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa speaking for the first time after his impeachment and removal from office, denied corruption allegations which purportedly led to his removal from office, while he challenged lawmakers to prove the allegations.
Speaking on Saturday, while addressing his crowd of supporters, Obasa urged his colleagues to follow due process in removing him from office, insisting that he remains the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly.
CAPITAL POST recalled that Obasa was impeached by majority members of the Assembly on 13th January, 2025 when he travelled to the United States of America, alleging misconduct and misappropriation of funds belonging to the Assembly.
After his impeachment, his deputy, a female lawmaker, was immediately sworn into office as the new Speaker.
The new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda was among lawmakers that impeached the Speaker and immediately she sworn in, she dissolved all the Standing Committees of the House.
Obasa told his supporters who gathered at the Speaker’s Lodge, 47, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, that he was seizing the opportunity to debunk allegations that were raised against him, explaining that he never used N16 billion to construct an ordinary gate as alleged.
He said: “Is it possible to construct an ordinary gate with N16bn? 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 N1bn 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.”
“I believe in removal. There is no impeachment in the Assembly. Probably, there is a mistake from them; you can only remove the speaker. And before you remove, you must ensure you follow the rules of the constitution. I’m not afraid to be removed, what else am I looking for?”
Obasa knocked Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Isola Olawale for personally leading officers to invade the Assembly on the day of his removal from where they moved to his house and locked his children out with his wife under house arrest.
According to him, over 200 Police Officers invaded his house at Agege area of the State blocking the gate, which prevented members of his family from going out of the house.
“I am not afraid of being removed; after all, it is not my father’s chieftaincy title. I am representing my people and they have returned me six times. If you want to do anything, do it well. Not because you realise that I’ve been out of the country and you now brought policemen to invade the Assembly, my house in GRA and my house in Agege; it doesn’t make sense. Lagos is a special place; we cannot denigrate Lagos,” he said.
Obasa noted that when a former speaker, Jokotola Pelumi, was removed, the latter was in the House and the process was done without police involvement.
“If you want to claim that I’m corrupt, please prove it, let us see it. If you don’t want me to be the speaker, it’s not a difficult thing. The Lagos State House of Assembly is above the common standard of excellence because of the way we do our things. Can we claim the same now? I believe in the image of our institution, we must not destroy it and I will never partake in destroying it,” the lawmaker said.
