Ex-Lagos lawmaker: Obasa’s speakership claim is impersonation — he should be suspended

January 27, 2025 5:02 pm

Olumuyiwa Jimoh

Olumuyiwa Jimoh, a former deputy majority leader of the Lagos state house of assembly, has called for the suspension of Mudashiru Obasa, the impeached speaker.

Obasa was removed on January 13 while out of the country. Lawmakers accused him of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

Following his removal, Mojisola Meranda, his deputy, was elected as the new speaker of the assembly.

On Saturday, Obasa faulted the process that led to his removal as speaker, arguing that the lawmakers did not adhere to “constitutional processes”.

However, the assembly responded and affirmed its decision to remove Obasa, adding that any “attempt to heat up the polity will be resisted by the majority members of the house”.

‘IT’S AN IMPERSONATION’

Reacting to Obasa’s claims during an interview on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television, Jimoh described the impeached speaker’s action as an “impersonation”.

The former lawmaker said Obasa should be suspended from the house for insisting that he remains the speaker of the assembly despite his removal.

“Obasa claims that he is still the speaker, which I think he knows that the implication is automatic suspension. I feel he should be suspended for that. It is an impersonation,” Jimoh said.

“How can he be the bonafide speaker of the house? It is going to lead to his suspension; he knows its implication. He has been in the house for almost two decades. If I were to be in the house, I am going to move a motion for his suspension.

Jimoh said Obasa does not need to be in the house to be removed as speaker, adding that he is only being frustrated and fighting a lost battle.

“Obasa doesn’t need to be in the House to be impeached. It is stipulated in the constitution: section 92 sub-section 2 states it clearly,” he said.

The former lawmaker also claimed that Obasa was instrumental in his removal as deputy majority leader of the house.

“I was not happy that he (Obasa) removed me. I was not notified about the process of my removal. I didn’t contend it because he coerced and intimidated members to sign for my removal. I took it in good fate,” Jimoh said.

The former lawmaker attributed his own removal to his challenges against some of Obasa’s policies, which he deemed “anti-democratic and anti-due process”.

He called on anti-graft agencies, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to probe the former speaker over the financial allegations leveled against him.