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Lagos lawmakers to DSS: Our method of flushing out Obasa was constitutional
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Lawmakers in Lagos State House of Assembly have declared that the removal of the immediate past Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, was legal, lawful and constitutional.
Recall Obasa was removed on January 13 while he was in the United States (U.S.).
Mojisola Meranda was immediately elected to replace him. Since 1979, she is the first female Speaker of the Assembly.
When Obasa returned, he declared that his removal was illegal, null and void as his colleagues in the Assembly did not follow due process.
But, the lawmakers replied him, insisting that their action “is legally binding”.
They stated this while responding to an invitation from the Department of State Services (DSS) in Lagos.
According to a statement by Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, on behalf of the Lagos State Assembly, “The Lagos State House of Assembly has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility as an independent branch of government with the best interests of the people of Lagos in mind.
“The decision to remove the former Speaker was reached through a democratic process, with the necessary majority as outlined by law. Any efforts to contest this legitimate action undermine the authority granted by the Nigerian Constitution.”
They stated that Obasa’s removal was consistent with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Powers and Privileges Act. These empower the State Assembly to manage its internal affairs without external interference.
The lawmakers explained that Sections 92 and 96 detail the procedures for electing and removing the Speaker, and their decision adhered to these guidelines.
They also noted that it is widely known that legislative autonomy has been granted to State Assemblies, allowing elected representatives to operate independently within their designated chambers.
Some members of the Lagos Assembly were detained by the DSS and questioned regarding matters concerning the legislative body. In response, additional Assembly members visited on Thursday.
However, after their visit, the lawmakers reported that their colleagues who were summoned for questioning had been released.
The lawmaker announced that all previously detained Assembly members have been released and praised the professionalism of the DSS.
The statement expressed gratitude to the Lagos DSS Command, particularly “acknowledging the Director for facilitating a smooth and respectful interaction”.
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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