In a dramatic turn of events, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have impeached the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, amidst allegations of financial misconduct.
During Monday’s plenary session, the lawmakers unanimously voted to remove Obasa from office. The Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, was also suspended indefinitely. Following the decision, Chief Whip Mojeed Fatai was elected as the new Deputy Speaker, while Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda was sworn in as the first female Speaker of the Assembly.
The reasons behind Obasa’s impeachment remain vague. However, speaking on the matter, an anonymous lawmaker stated, “It is only death that is constant, so change is inevitable. Members of the parliament today have decided to change the leadership of the House.
“The Constitution empowers the House to regulate its proceedings, and we felt we had had enough of the leadership of Mudashiru Obasa. This decision was unanimously agreed upon, and we believe it is necessary to restore the sanity and integrity of this parliament. Our constituencies and Lagos State deserve no less.”
The lawmaker added that all principal positions and standing committees of the House had been dissolved as part of the restructuring effort.
Allegations of Financial Impropriety
Mudashiru Obasa’s impeachment follows months of controversies and allegations of financial mismanagement. Recently, a Lagos-based group, the Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, accused the Assembly of spending ₦17 billion on constructing a gate. The former Speaker dismissed the claims as baseless, describing them as “spurious and laughable.”
“It is funny. How much is the Assembly’s annual allocation for anyone to claim we spent ₦17 billion on a gate? They even alleged ₦200 million was spent on our Thanksgiving service last Friday. These are politically motivated fabrications,” Obasa said during a plenary session.
Mudashiru Obasa, who has served as a lawmaker for six consecutive terms, representing Agege Constituency I under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has faced repeated scrutiny over alleged financial irregularities during his tenure as Speaker.
Historic Leadership Change
Mojisola Meranda’s emergence as Speaker marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first female Speaker in the history of the Lagos Assembly.
While the exact circumstances surrounding Obasa’s removal remain under wraps, the lawmakers emphasized their commitment to rebuilding the Assembly’s integrity and serving the interests of Lagosians. will be closely watched as she takes the reins in a time of transition.