Obasa returns to EFCC custody but regains freedom after ‘falling sick’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, who is being grilled over corruption allegations.

TheCable had reported how officials of the anti-graft agency interrogated the number three man in Lagos on Thursday.

An unidentified lady, who was said to have acted as personal assistant to the speaker, was also questioned by EFCC officials.

He was later released but a source at the commission told TheCable that Obasa returned to the commission’s Lagos office on Friday and he was granted bail after complaining of feeling sick.

The source said he was taken to the clinic within the commission’s premises before he was released.

“Obasa recalled back to EFCC yesterday. But he said he was sick, so they took him to the EFCC clinic and later released him on bail but he was asked to come back on Monday,” the source said.

“He cracked and became overwhelmed under serious questioning and confronted with overwhelming evidence.”

A federal high court in Lagos had granted the EFCC temporary forfeiture of funds linked to the speaker.

The EFCC in a motion dated August 12, 2020, and marked FHC/L/CS/1069/2020, had asked the court to issue an order for the funds in three bank accounts to be forfeited in the interim.

According to the anti-graft commission, the three bank accounts are “being investigated for the offences of conspiracy, diversion of funds, abuse of office and money laundering”.

All three accounts which carried the name of the defendant are domiciled in Standard Chartered Bank.

While one of the accounts (001852963) is a domiciliary account, the other two (001852956 and 5002349821) are naira current and savings accounts respectively.

 SaharaReporters had carried out an investigation on the speaker who allegedly owns more than 60 bank accounts.

He was accused of using his office to misappropriate funds and to allocate contracts to himself through third party sources, as well as other acquaintances.

The state house of assembly had cleared the speaker of the allegations, saying they are untrue.

In a statement after the interrogation by the EFCC, Obasa had said he decided to honour the invitation of the anti-graft agency as a “responsible lawmaker”.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission invited me today (Thursday). As a responsible citizen and lawmaker, I honoured the invitation. I have nothing to hide,” Obasa had said.

“When we are called upon by law-enforcement agents in their investigations, as responsible citizens, it’s our duty to oblige them.”