Security around the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja has been tightened ahead of today’s (Monday) plenary session to forestall breakdown of law and order.
The acting Clerk’s office on Sunday, advised staff members and legislative aides to come to the complex with a means of identification.
The notice which was signed by Omotayo Adekemi on behalf of the acting clerk read, “Regarding management directives, all staff members and legislative aides must present valid identity cards to access the House premises. Please remember that entry will be denied to anyone without a valid identity card,” the short notice read.
This was in the aftermath of the removal of the former speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa who was expected to resume plenary on Monday after his return to Lagos on Saturday.
There are speculations that there might be a showdown at the House as the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, on Saturday claimed he remained the Speaker of the House.
Obasa was removed by the majority of House members on January 13, 2025, following allegations of misconduct and financial misappropriation. He was subsequently replaced by the Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Today’s plenary will be the third session presided over by Meranda since Obasa’s removal, with the former speaker absent at the last two sittings.
Speaking on Saturday, Obasa who had been outside Lagos since the saga at the House, said he still remained the speaker, and asked the lawmakers to follow the “right way” to remove him from office.
The former speaker also denied the allegations of corruption brought against him by the lawmakers during his removal, describing the alleged financial misappropriations as “impossible.”
Responding to questions from newsmen shortly after he addressed his supporters, Obasa insisted that he remained the Speaker.
“My status in the house? I believe strongly I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done. If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it.
“I’m a Muslim and I believe in fate. But let’s do it the way it should be done.”
When asked if a legal battle was in the offing, Obasa responded, “You will know. It’s a matter of time.”
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Obasa also spoke to a huge crowd of supporters at the Speaker’s Lodge, 47, GRA Ikeja Lagos.
He said, “I thank you for your support and dedication. I will take this advantage 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? 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.”
Reacting to Obasa’s claim, the House in a statement issued by Hon. Stephen Ogundipe on behalf of the lawmakers, said Obasa’s removal stands, saying that over two-third of the members removed him.
The lawmakers said nothing has changed, pledging their support and loyalty to Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
The House, however, warned Obasa not to heat up the polity, stating that his post-impeachment utterances were “uncalled for” and “unparliamentary”.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has also said it will maintain order in the state irrespective of what transpires at the assembly on Monday.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ishola Olawale, in an interview with our correspondent on Sunday, said as much as the police had no business inside the assembly, it was his duty to maintain the calmness outside the assembly and everywhere in the state.
According to him, there won’t be any breakdown of law and order in the state. “That will not happen. I don’t see any breakdown of law in the state and if there is, it is inside the assembly and I am not allowed to enter the assembly. But outside the assembly, there won’t be any breakdown of law and order in Lagos State, in whatever location because that’s my job as a policeman.”
He added, “People will genuinely move about with their businesses, but anybody congregating anywhere to foment trouble will be decisively dispersed, and if they don’t (cooperate), they will be arrested if they conduct themselves in an unruly manner. Everyone has the right to assembly but there is also what we call law and order.”
The police also denied invading the residence of the former Speaker.
Obasa had on Saturday accused the Lagos CP of leading policemen to invade the Assembly and his residence on the day of his removal.
He alleged that over 200 policemen invaded his residences in the Agege area of the state and at the GRA, blocking the gate and preventing members of his family from going out of the house.
“My children did not sleep in this house on that day because they were locked out, and my wife kept inside — house arrest,” Obasa said while addressing a crowd of supporters at the Speaker’s Lodge, 47, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
But the CP stated that Obasa’s claim could be easily investigated from the residents without even hearing from him.
“The man lives within an estate, so that means before you get to his house, you must have breached the gate of that estate. There are gatemen in the estate, why don’t you find out? 200 policemen? How many policemen do I have? Have you asked that question?” the CP queried.
Ishola also said the police had no business at the assembly as they were not authorised to be in the hallowed chambers.
“Whatever happens there (in the assembly) has nothing to do with the police. They have ways they check themselves in and I don’t believe anybody who has no business inside the assembly is allowed in. They have their sergeants at hand who coordinate the conduct of the assembly.
“The law does not permit me to supervise or even intervene in what happens inside the assembly. It has nothing to do with me as a policeman,” the CP added.
According to him, Lagos is calm and “it’s my job to keep it calm and that’s what I’m going to do, that’s what I’m doing.”
