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2 hours ago
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The Department of State Security (DSS) has released all members of the Lagos State House of Assembly who had been detained in connection with a petition written by the former Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
According to reliable sources, over 30 lawmakers were interrogated by the DSS for more than six hours on Thursday, January 29, 2025, regarding a petition filed by Obasa concerning his removal as Speaker on January 13.
The DSS investigation followed Obasa’s claims that his ousting was politically motivated and involved misconduct, abuse of office, and financial mismanagement.
Despite the lengthy questioning, all the detained lawmakers were released late Thursday evening, around 7 pm.
After their release, the lawmakers chose not to provide any details about the nature of the questioning or the petition itself. Instead, they described the encounter with the DSS as a “friendly visit” and indicated that the issue would be formally addressed in due course on the floor of the House.
Obasa, who had been Speaker since 2015, was removed by a majority vote of the lawmakers on January 13, 2025, amid serious allegations of misconduct.
His removal came during a period when he was absent from Nigeria, having traveled to the United States. Upon his return to Lagos on Saturday, Obasa strongly rejected the corruption allegations leveled against him and criticised the process that led to his ouster.
He urged the lawmakers to follow the “right process” in addressing his removal, while maintaining that he had been unfairly targeted.
Meanwhile, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have strongly defended the legal validity of the removal of the former Speaker, stating that the decision followed due process as outlined in Nigeria’s constitution
The lawmakers made this statement following their visit to the Lagos Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday, where they provided insights into the events surrounding the removal.
In the press statement issued on Thursday after the meeting, the lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to upholding constitutional governance and stated that the action was in line with Sections 92 and 96 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
These sections empower the State Assembly to regulate its internal proceedings, including the election and removal of the Speaker, without external interference.
The lawmakers, who had earlier been detained by the DSS, expressed appreciation for the professionalism displayed by the DSS office, especially the Director.
The engagement was described as respectful and provided an opportunity for the lawmakers to give a clear account of the events in a comfortable environment. They also confirmed that all detained members had been released.
The Assembly members reiterated their commitment to their legislative duties, stressing their focus on serving the best interests of Lagosians and ensuring effective governance.
They called on all stakeholders, including the executive arm and the public, to respect the sanctity of legislative proceedings and avoid undue interference.
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