I remain Lagos Assembly Speaker – Obasa

…Denies fraud allegations

The immediate past Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has said that his removal as Speaker was not constitutional, stating that due process was not followed.

Obasa was removed by 35 out of the 40 members of the assembly on January 13, 2025, over allegations of misconduct and mismanagement of funds, and replaced with his former Deputy, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lawal-Meranda.

He spoke on Saturday amidst cheers from members of the Mandate Movement and politicians from some local governments in the state at the official residence of the Lagos Speaker in GRA, Ikeja.

The former Speaker emphasized that the allegations made against him by the lawmakers could not be substantiated, adding that he is the most experienced lawmaker in the assembly, having been elected six times since 2003.

“I believe I am still the speaker until they follow the right process,” he said.

“I thank you for your support and dedication. I will take this opportunity 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? Talking about Thanksgiving, they should compare the one they said we spent N200 million on and the one organized by the state government.

“I am not disturbed or perturbed, and I am not afraid. I will debunk all the allegations leveled 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,” he said.

The former Speaker added that it was important that due process ought to have been followed before his removal.

According to him, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police led police officers to invade the state assembly on the day of the removal, adding that over 200 policemen also invaded his private residence in Agege, blocked the gate, and prevented members of his family from leaving 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.

“They did the removal all because I was out of the country. Lagos is a special place; we cannot denigrate the state.

“When former Speaker Rt. Hon. Jokotola Pelumi was removed, he was in the assembly, and we did not invite policemen. When my sister, former Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, was removed, we did not invite the police.

“They should not discredit an innocent person; they should prove their allegations against me. The Lagos State House of Assembly is above the common standard of excellence.

“I believe in the image of our institution. We must not destroy it, and I will never partake in its destruction.

“I appreciate the members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of the state. He is my brother, and he always calls me his younger brother,” he stated.

Obasa also thanked Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who he said would always be his father.

He recalled that he had been with President Tinubu during his days in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), adding that he never expected to be Speaker in 2015 but that Tinubu supported him even when everyone was against him.