DSS storms Lagos Assembly, seals Speaker, deputy’s offices

Personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), accompanied by Nigeria Police, on Monday morning, raided the Lagos State House of Assembly, sealing off the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her Deputy, and the Clerk of the House.

The raid, which took place at dawn, has sent shockwaves across political circles in the state.

By 10 AM, armed security personnel had taken control of the Assembly premises at Alausa, Ikeja, and were thoroughly frisking passersby. Meranda, however, arrived at the premises at approximately 11:15 AM with her convoy.

The exact reasons behind the action remain unclear, but sources suggest it is linked to ongoing tensions within the Assembly, particularly following the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, 2025, in a move described by some as a “coup.”

Obasa, who was in the U.S. at the time of his removal, has since filed a lawsuit at the Ikeja Division of the State High Court, challenging the legality of his ousting and seeking an accelerated hearing.

The suit filed by Obasa read partly: “This application is predicated among which he stated the suit concerns the interpretation of Sections 36; 90; 92(2)(c); 101 and 311 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended) vis-à-vis ORDER V RULE 18(2) and Order II Rule 9(1)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) OF RULES AND STANDING ORDER OF LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (which enjoy constitutional flavour and status);

“The action borders on the constitutionality or otherwise of the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly of the 13th January 2025 where the Plaintiff herein, as Honourable Speaker was said to be impeached.

“This action challenges the constitutionality of the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly to sit during recess without the Speaker reconvening the House or giving any other person powers to reconvene the House.

“Public interest requires the case to be heard and determined speedily and expeditiously so that legislative activities in the State is not stalled.

“The legality of the continued sitting of the 1st defendant under the present leadership in violation of the aforementioned laws and rules calls for an urgent determination;

“The nature of this action is such that is required to be heard and determined expeditiously having regard to the exceptional circumstances surrounding same;

“There is need to abridge the time within which the Defendants may file their response to the originating summon as well as time within which the claimant/Applicant may file its reply on point of law; and

“This Honourable Court is imbued with inherent powers to grant accelerated hearing and abridgement of time; and

“It is expedient to grant accelerated hearing of this action and abridgement of time for parties to file the relevant processes in the interest of justice.”

The controversy surrounding Obasa’s removal has created divisions within the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), a key decision-making body in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos. The situation remains fluid as legal proceedings unfold.