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A member of the Governance Advisory Council of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, Chief Muraina Taiwo, has faulted the process leading to the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
Obasa was on January 13, 2025, removed by a majority of lawmakers over alleged misconduct, abuse of office, and financial misappropriations. He was replaced by former deputy speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Obasa, representing Agege Constituency 1, was away in the United States when he was removed. Upon returning to Lagos on Saturday, he denied the allegations of corruption and faulted his removal, asking the lawmakers to follow the “right process” to remove him.
“My status in the House? I strongly believe 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,” he told supporters at Speaker’s Lodge, GRA Ikeja on Saturday.
Chief Taiwo in a statement obtained on Wednesday, titled, ‘My Take on the Ongoing Imbroglio at the Lagos State House of Assembly,’ said Obasa’s removal was illegal, and a disrespect to the party leadership.
He noted that the situation had polarised GAC, adding that President Bola Tinubu had the final say on the matter.
“The act of the lawmakers is illegal. It shows total disregard and clear disrespect for leadership.
“The GAC leadership is split over the matter but we will all defer to our de facto leader, the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolve the crisis,” the message reads.
His comment came after GAC member Senator Anthony Adefuye told The PUNCH in an interview last week that Obasa’s removal was illegal. “What he is saying is that he was illegally removed and the procedure was faulty, and I agree with him,” he said.
The PUNCH reports that the Lagos State House of Assembly has said it is expecting Obasa to resume in the House before it determines the next line of action, including a possible probe.
The spokesperson for the House, Olukayode Ogundipe, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday at the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja.
Ogundipe also dismissed the rumour about using fake mace to remove the former speaker.
While citing other instances of removal, Obasa had on Saturday said, “When former speaker, Jokotola Pelumi was removed, he was in the House and there was no police involvement. It was done on the floor of the House, without breaking into the chamber and without presenting a fake mace.”
When asked about the controversy around the use of “fake mace” during Obasa’s removal, Ogundipe said he was also lost, wondering where it was coming from.
“I’m sure he (Obasa) is not supposed to be in charge of the mace in the first instance. The mace is in the custody of the sergeants at arms, and when it was time for us to have plenary, the usual mace was the one we used. So where the issue of fake mace was coming from, I’m also lost. I doubt if that is genuine or not, but if he has his proof, let him also come out. He who alleges also must be ready to prove,” he told our correspondent.
English (US) ·