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… Public Calls For Investigation Intensify
LAGOS, NIGERIA – Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, January 13, 2025, voted to impeach Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, citing multiple statutory and financial infractions.
Following Obasa’s removal, his Deputy Speaker, Lasbat Meranda, representing Apapa Constituency 1, was appointed as the new Speaker. Meranda, a former Chief Whip of the House, stepped into the leadership role amid mounting controversy.
Obasa’s impeachment followed days after he approved the withdrawal of ₦43.5 billion to purchase backup vehicles for lawmakers, a decision that sparked widespread criticism and added to his list of controversial actions.
Lawmakers accused Obasa of misappropriating ₦6 billion allocated for constituency intervention projects. They said that despite the earmarked funds, there was no visible evidence of the projects being executed.
Further allegations emerged regarding funds approved for Obasa to attend the International Bar Association (IBA) Conference in Mexico City in September 2024. Reports claim that while the funds were disbursed, Obasa failed to attend the event.
Obasa has faced numerous accusations of financial misconduct over the years, including allegations of diverting public funds. However, despite these claims, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has yet to investigate him.
The latest allegations against Obasa are tied to the budget performance report for the 2023 fiscal year and the first quarter of 2024. The report, detailing the Assembly’s expenditures, capital projects, and overhead costs, was reportedly distributed to lawmakers, but later retrieved under suspicious circumstances.
Reports alleged that Obasa directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to retrieve the budget performance documents from lawmakers’ offices. Even secretaries tasked with delivering the documents were ordered to return them immediately. This action has fueled speculation about attempts to suppress critical financial information.
Civil society groups and observers have urged the EFCC and other relevant agencies to investigate Obasa’s tenure. They emphasize the need for transparency and accountability in the Assembly’s financial management.
The Lagos State House of Assembly now faces increased public scrutiny over its financial practices, with calls for reforms and better oversight of its operations.
Obasa, 52, who first became Speaker on June 8, 2015, during the tenure of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has seen his decade-long leadership come to an end amidst mounting allegations and public dissatisfaction.
