Meranda resigned as Lagos assembly speaker at peace meeting, Obasa claims

Mudashiru Obasa, the impeached speaker of the Lagos house of assembly, has claimed that Mojisola Meranda has resigned from her position as the parliament’s leader.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Obasa claimed that Meranda openly told leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos at a meeting in the Marina area of the state that she had resigned.

Obasa’s claim was in response to a question about why Meranda’s security aides were withdrawn while his own were restored.

“When my own security personnel were removed even when I was not around without my knowledge, without my consent, did I complain? Obasa asked.

“There was a meeting that took place in Marina where we had in attendance all the party leaders. Openly, Meranda herself made the statement that she had stepped down, she had resigned.

“So, when you resign from an office, the paraphernalia of the office would be taken away. What are you saying?”

He added that while impeachment is a constitutional and democratic process, it must be carried out according to laid-down procedures.

Earlier today, security aides attached to Meranda were withdrawn.

Shortly after, Obasa said he had resumed his position as the speaker of the house, but members of the assembly immediately rejected his claim.

The impeached speaker had also presided over a “plenary session” with only four lawmakers in attendance.

There are 40 members in the state assembly, but the majority refused to participate in the session despite being present at the assembly complex.

Moshood Jimoh, the commissioner of police in Lagos, later said that the command had restored Meranda’s security detail.

Jimoh said the audit of the security personnel attached to some individuals and facilities was to ensure that the police officers and their weapons are accounted for.

The police commissioner said the ongoing audit of police personnel is being done by other state commands in the country.

He added that the withdrawal of the security detail of Meranda was not for any other consideration aside from the public interest.