The Lagos State House of Assembly, under the leadership of embattled Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, has requested armed security personnel to fortify the Assembly complex amid an ongoing leadership crisis and judicial disputes.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A leaked letter signed by the Clerk of the House, O. B. Onafeko, and addressed to the Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) revealed Obasa’s request for additional security reinforcements. The letter stated that the NSCDC officers would work alongside 20 private security guards to secure the Assembly premises, suggesting anticipation of potential unrest.
The request follows conflicting reports regarding a court ruling from the National Industrial Court (NIC), which clarified that it did not order Onafeko’s reinstatement as Clerk. Instead, the court had merely instructed both parties to maintain peace. However, Onafeko, backed by security operatives, forcefully took over the Assembly Secretariat, ejecting Acting Clerk Taiwo Ottun—a move that Justice M.N. Esowe condemned during a hearing on March 12, 2025.
The leadership crisis within the Assembly has also been linked to a multi-billion naira procurement scandal involving the purchase of official vehicles for lawmakers. Obasa had initially approved the purchase of 35 Toyota Fortuner SUVs and 10 Toyota Prado SUVs from Dubai for N7 billion. However, during her brief tenure as Speaker, Mojisola Meranda opted for a local dealer, acquiring 32 units of 2025 Toyota Prado SUVs and seven Toyota Land Cruiser 2025 models for N5 billion, effectively saving N2 billion. Obasa allegedly opposed this move and is now demanding the return of the vehicles procured under Meranda. Reports indicate that his original plan included acquiring 45 luxury vehicles, with four units reserved for himself and his two wives.
In a further controversial decision, Obasa unilaterally replaced the legal team representing the Lagos Assembly in court without consulting the 35 lawmakers who had initially voted for his impeachment. This action sparked outrage among the Assembly members and legal experts. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, representing the anti-Obasa faction, condemned the move as illegal, stating, “A plaintiff cannot impose a lawyer on the defendants.”
The escalating crisis has now caught the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who convened an emergency closed-door meeting on Wednesday with Speaker Obasa, Mojisola Meranda, and other Lagos lawmakers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Sources confirmed that the lawmakers were flown to Abuja on a chartered flight personally arranged by Tinubu. Obasa reportedly made a separate, discreet entry into Aso Rock for the high-stakes meeting, aimed at preventing the situation from spiraling further out of control.
As tensions remain high within the Assembly, the outcomes of the court hearings on March 17 and 18, along with Tinubu’s intervention, are expected to determine the next chapter of the Lagos legislative crisis.
